Chapter 285: Why We Exist
"Originally you just wanted to apply for this project, but unfortunately it wasn't approved."
Dr. Hiroki Suzuki said helplessly at that moment, "But I thought you were drawn in your manga because of your original obsession."
However, Takeshi Saito and Yuto, who were beside him, were stunned.
Professor... Are you saying you've also read Ren's manga?A professor your age reads manga, something only young people read?
If this were to get out, it would probably surprise everyone.
"Ah, yes, but the truth is I have no memory of it."
Ren scratched his head and said, "It's pure coincidence."
"No, I don't think it's a coincidence."
Dr. Hiroki Suzuki said suddenly, "You still long for scientific research and academia. You were once my best student, and I have always believed in you."
"So, Ren, are you coming back? I'm working on that intelligent AI project! I really need your help."
He looked at Ren expectantly and said sincerely.
"..."
Ren, somewhat bewildered, said, "The truth is I probably can't help much with a project like this."
A doctorate wouldn't be of much help in such a cutting-edge scientific project.
Of course, Ren, with his system, could play a decisive role.
But he didn't want to go back to scientific research.
So, of course, he wouldn't help Dr. Hiroki Suzuki complete the project.
"No... with your scientific research skills, maybe you could help us achieve a breakthrough?" asked Dr. Hiroki Suzuki. "With you, we completed the fundamental architecture of the convolutional neural network for our intelligent AI model, so I have a lot of faith in your abilities."
"I'm sorry, but I can't help you right now," said Ren firmly.
That was the original body's ability; what did it have to do with him, Ren? Upon hearing this, Dr. Hiroki Suzuki opened his mouth, but held back.
He sighed and said, "Well, if that's the case, forget it...".
He desperately wanted Ren to come back and help him, but it was clear that he wasn't interested.
So, what else could he do?
Dr. Hiroki Suzuki suddenly stood up and prepared to leave.
Takeshi Saito and Yuto also stood up and followed their advisors.
Ren quickly imitated them, intending to see Dr. Hiroki Suzuki and the others off.
"Just so you know, do you have any ideas? Our project is currently having difficulties with anthropomorphic expression in the AI model. Even with a convolutional neural network, almost a thousand layers deep, it still can't support the most basic human emotions..." asked Dr. Hiroki Suzuki, still a little reluctant to give up, upon reaching the door.
"Well..." sighed Ren, his heart softening. "The only solution is optimization algorithms...".
Everyone knows that optimization algorithms are the best way to solve computer research projects.
But optimization algorithms are easy to say, but incredibly difficult to implement.
"If you have any other ideas, don't hesitate to contact me," said Dr. Hiroki Suzuki, staring at Ren and handing him his business card.
Ren was stunned for a moment, but still took it.
Then Dr. Hiroki Suzuki finally left.
Ren returned to his apartment, looked at the card in his hand, and after a moment's thought, put it in his bedroom drawer.
...
The arrival of Dr. Hiroki Suzuki did not change Ren's heart, nor did it alter his life. He was still the popular manga artist Ren, not the youngest person in the Republic to hold a double doctorate in computer science and applied physics.
The plot of Parasyte was moving along smoothly. After Shinichi and Satomi confirmed their relationship, 84 similar parasitic murder cases occurred throughout the country, causing widespread panic.
Shinichi was also deeply worried.
But then, an unexpected guest arrived at his high school... a beautiful young teacher named Tamiya Ryoko, who was... the woman who appeared at the end of episode six.
Her cold and ruthless eyes clearly showed that she was a Parasyte!
Shinichi and Migi were attending a student assembly at school, and Migi saw her presence. Migi told Shinichi not to hold Tamiya Ryoko's gaze, as it would reveal his presence.
However, Shinichi couldn't help but look at Tamiya Ryoko, who instantly noticed Shinichi's gaze and fixed her eyes on Shinichi below the crowd.
Discovered! Therefore, from the beginning, Tamiya Ryoko discovered Shinichi's presence.
Crucially, she was also the new teacher in Satomi's classroom.
This worried Shinichi greatly. What if she attacked Satomi?
However, the parasitic beast, Tamiya Ryoko, did not immediately go on a killing spree.
Instead, she began to teach like a normal teacher.
Shinichi remained cautious. What if Tamiya Ryoko started to "feed"?
He spent the whole day in a state of panic and worry.
However, Shinichi soon ran into this strange parasitic beast in his own math class.
Tamiya Ryoko, however, remained attentive and taught like a real math teacher, even with excellent instruction. There was no indication that she was a monstrous parasite that parasitized human brains.
However, his anxiety about whether Tamiya Ryoko would attack him had kept him completely oblivious to what she was saying, leaving his notes blank.
Tamiya Ryoko approached Shinichi just as Migi was warning him.
When she was extremely nervous and alert, she looked at him and said with a meaningful tone, "What's wrong with you? There's no progress...".
It seemed she was saying that Shinichi hadn't heard anything from the class and that his notes were blank.
In reality, she was talking to Migi, asking him why he hadn't devoured his brain yet and was only occupying his right hand.
Although Shinichi and Migi knew the true meaning of her words, Shinichi answered superficially.
But...
"Shinichi."
After class, Tamiya Ryoko gave an ambiguous smile and said, "Come to my office later...".
Shinichi was stunned for a moment, with a serious expression.
But Tamiya Ryoko continued to smile ambiguously and said, "Understood?".
This caused Shinichi's classmates to scream in horror and everyone to make fun of him.
But Shinichi was not so calm. With a heavy heart, he woke up Migi and went to Tamiya Ryoko's office.
At that moment, the office was empty, except for them.
When Shinichi approached Tamiya Ryoko, Tamiya Ryoko said to him, "Shinichi...".
"You know my true identity, right?"
"Yes," replied Shinichi immediately.
"Yes?"
Tamiya Ryoko looked at him with a thoughtful smile and said, "How can you talk to a teacher like that? There's no need to be so reserved."
"Your right hand should know that I have no hostility."
As expected, she had already discovered Migi's presence!
"Besides, if we fight at this distance, we'll both suffer," said Tamiya Ryoko, extending her invitation. "And I have a lot to talk to you about. Could you spare me some time after class?"
Shinichi hesitated a lot.
After all, it wasn't convenient to fight there. What if Tamiya Ryoko was planning to attack Shinichi in an empty and deserted place after class? But...
"Alright."
Migi immediately revealed his true appearance and appeared in front of Tamiya Ryoko, saying.
This startled Shinichi, who exclaimed, "What if it's a trap? I don't want it."
Seeing this, Tamiya Ryoko exclaimed in disgust, "Why are humans so irrational?".
"What did you say?".
Tamiya Ryoko stood up, approached Shinichi, and said, "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it a long time ago."
"It's just that I'm very interested in you, and this is the first time I've found myself in a situation like this."
"So I want to collect information about you, exchange information with you, and we can talk about anything in the future."
At that moment, the fans perceived that this parasitic creature named Tamiya Ryoko was quite unique.
She seemed... just like Migi, to exude a remarkably rational and calm demeanor.
This was completely different from the stereotypical image that fans had of parasites: man-eating beasts, jackals, and monsters.
Tamiya Ryoko now seemed to show a certain wisdom and serenity, possessing the cruelty of a parasite, but also the intelligence of a human.
But wasn't Migi's rationality and serenity due to the fact that he parasitized Shinichi's right hand? The appearance of Tamiya Ryoko, whose personality was surprisingly similar to Migi's, had significantly altered people's perception of the Parasytes.
Or did the Parasytes, like humans, possess a completely different personality?
"What about the future?" asked Shinichi, perplexed.
But Tamiya Ryoko seemed to lose interest and simply walked away, saying, "Let's leave it at that for now."
Later, at Migi's suggestion, Shinichi went to meet Tamiya Ryoko.
However, Migi did not fully trust Tamiya Ryoko and remained extremely cautious.
However, Tamiya Ryoko arrived alone and brought another Parasyte, named Mr. A.
This completely unbalanced the situation!
Migi had been confident that he could still protect Shinichi's life against Tamiya Ryoko.
But with Mr. A's presence, the balance of power was instantly unbalanced.
Mr. A, upon seeing Shinichi and Migi, made a disdainful comment, "What? Do you consider yourselves our allies?".
Migi immediately adopted a combat stance, and Mr. A's head hunched over and opened. For an instant, the tension was intense, as if a battle was about to begin.
But at that moment, Tamiya Ryoko simply looked at him and said, "Stop! It's pointless to fight here."
After all, this was in a crowded restaurant, surrounded by countless onlookers.
A fight would completely reveal their identities.
Clearly, this would be of no use. Even if one of them were victorious, their identities would be exposed, sowing panic in human society.
With humanity's current technological capabilities, they would be pursued no matter where they went.
Think about it...
The Parasytes' greatest advantage is not their individual combat power.
It is their ability to hide among humans, which makes them difficult to detect.
Perhaps with this in mind, Migi immediately returned to his original form.
Mr. A, following Tamiya Ryoko's orders, immediately regained his original form and refrained from entering combat.
Next, Tamiya Ryoko and Mr. A learned from Shinichi what had happened between him and Migi.
"I see,"
Tamiya Ryoko understood instantly, but then looked at Shinichi and asked, "Shinichi, what do you think we are?".
Shinichi answered without hesitation, "Man-eating monsters, I don't even know what to call them."
But then, Tamiya Ryoko suddenly announced, "In fact, I had sex with this Mr. A."
This startled not only Shinichi, but even the waiter nearby.
Tamiya Ryoko continued, "What do you think the final result will be? Yes, I'm pregnant."
This startled Shinichi.
But Tamiya Ryoko continued with a smile, "So the question is, what is this growing inside me now?".
"Of course..." Shinichi fell into deep thought.
But Migi answered bluntly, "Human, and a normal human."
"As expected of such a being," Tamiya Ryoko praised Migi, saying, "Indeed, a completely human baby."
She seemed especially kind to Migi, and calling him "such a being" gave the fans a sense of belonging.
Being the same kind of people does not mean that she and Migi are parasitic beasts, but because... Migi, like her, possesses extraordinary wisdom and calmness, so they are "the same kind of people."
"In that case..." asked Tamiya Ryoko again at that moment, "So what are we?".
"Who knows you? I want to ask you too."
Shinichi said sadly, "To keep the parasitic body alive, you have to devour other humans."
"This is simply cannibalism. Why do you do this?".
These words made Mr. A, next to Tamiya Ryoko, lose control of his emotions.
Shinichi's disdainful attitude, added to the fact that he really didn't know what he was or why he existed, angered him a little.
However, Tamiya Ryoko was still very calm. She looked at Migi and asked, "Have you asked your right hand this question?".
Migi turned his head, looked at Shinichi, and replied, "I get nutrients directly from Shinichi's blood. I don't know what appetite is and I don't understand why people kill each other."
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