The Western European Plutocracy (西欧財閥, Seiō Zaibatsu?) is an economic organization that effectively rules the world in the World of Fate/EX.[1]
History[]
After Overcount 1999, the Harwey family predicted the following issue of the resources of the world running out. Developing a great fear of the ramifications, their solution was the careful management of the ArcticWP, where a new energy resource could be mined, placing undivided attention on the area. It is speculated that the Holy Church helped the Harwey family due to a large influx of financial resources gathering under them.[1] With the depletion of resources, the fact that a new energy source at the North Pole was held by the Harwey's Western European Plutocracy made them the de facto rulers of the world.[2] It made strict resource utilization agreements and formed alliances with 45 developed countries, creating the North Earth Resource Organization (北半球資源機構, Kitahankyū Shigen Kikō?) (NERO) in 2015, with its main goals being to strictly limit the excavation and utilization of earthly and lunar resources. Since most of the countries in the northern hemisphere had joined it, all resource excavation activities on Earth are in fact controlled by NERO. Eventually, 48 countries came to be supervised by NERO, which meant in turn being governed by the Western European Plutocracy.[3] It has been said that with these 48 countries, the Western European Plutocracy controls 67% of the global economy and 90% of the global military force. In fact, when using the world "world", it can refer to countries governed by the Western European Plutocracy.[4]
The Western European Plutocracy did not act like a cruel dictatorship, but instead declared to all that it would manage and distribute the remaining resources to ensure the survival of mankind, so they helped not only Europe but everyone around the world.[2] Under the direction of the West Europe Plutocracy, cities around the world created an ideal system of city management known as Farm (ファーム?)[5] or Firm (ファーム?)[6] which eliminated most poverty and strife, with the Plutocracy ushering in a new era of city-nations and striving to promote universal acceptance of refugees regardless of race.[2] Notably, under this focus on human rights, the Western European Plutocracy provided aid to those looking to leave Japan once it became a failed state, as it considers human resources as important as natural ones, and see Japanese people as a good resource.[7]
As a result, advanced technology became focused in the western part of the Eurasian continent. Countries that were suffering from poverty were given resource assistance, and the Plutocracy continued to expand its umbrella of influence.[2] It has encircled the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans with its centers in Europe, India, and North America,[8] and even has taken control of Jerusalem.[7] The United States of America, the United Kingdom of Britain (however reluctantly,[9] as the Royal Family opposes the Harweys[10]), and India are allies of the Western European Plutocracy, and provide for large amounts of the Western European Plutocracy’s military operations.[3] The organization possesses a large religious influence, and they have a good relationship with Pope Laurentis.[1] This is how the Harwey family, as head of the Plutocracy, effectively gained enough power to be considered the rulers of the world.[2]
Alongside its management of cities, the Plutocracy also put a freeze on all technology, especially aerospace industry and space-related technology development.[2][11][3] This was partly motivated by the discovery of the Moon Cell in 1973, after which everyone tried to claim it as their own and so the Harweys put a stop to any attempt at landing on the moon.[12] This was also out of personal conviction, as the Harwey family has always restricted new technology as they believe that technical progress is unnecessary.[12] Proclaiming "Mankind has no need for further technological advancement in this area," the Plutocracy aimed to refine and regulate the management of society.[2] Despite there being a slow trickle of advancement and new technology, no genius talent has appeared with a breakthrough.[11] There are cell phones and smartphones as normal,[7] but new discoveries, scientific breakthroughs, even space travel have all come to a standstill. Mankind has yet to even explore the moon.[13] Furthermore, the development of weapons has led to an extreme decrease in the availability of resources, which peaked in the year 2000.[11]
Hostilities between Western Europe and Islam have intensified, and there is endless conflict. Islamic countries had blamed their downfall after Overcount 1999 on the “machine-like management of cities and resources” and prepared to fight back against the factions of Western Europe, however they are losing their identity as nations and are thus unable to continue fighting back properly, so they are resigned to just using guerrilla warfare. It is said that the Islamic resistance will be driven back and defeated in about 5 years.[2]
Characteristics[]
The Western European Plutocracy is a corporation with numerous subsidiaries that control many nations and has its own army.[5] Led by the Harwey family, they can be called the king of Earth,[1] as about 30% of the world's land[5] and 60% of the world's wealth, based on GDP, belong to it.[14]
The territories directly controlled by the Western European Plutocracy are stable by means of a completely controlled society, and the aristocracy has come back into existence.[7]
The city management system implemented by the Western European Plutocracy created a utopia without conflict (or possibly a dystopia that has reduced the self-awareness of the people).[6] Within cities under the jurisdiction of the Western European Plutocracy, all people are treated equally, with even orphans like the Sakagami siblings receiving ample care and protection, even a free education.[15] They have freedom of work and study, and their welfare program works perfectly.[16] In this harmonious city system, the ruling class and worker class are clearly separated, and even if you are part of the ruling class, your future is precisely managed. There is no racial discrimination, and treatment only differs based on actual ability, however there is no stipulation that all humans are made equal, and it is deemed enough as long as people are equal within their group, which ironically amounts to extreme racial discrimination.[6]
The Plutocracy isn't perfect, as selfish, perverse individuals continue to exist within its hierarchy.[14] Human rights aren't granted to clones, who are considered something on the order of an AI with flesh.[17] As Rin Tohsaka, a member of the Resistance, points out, under the Plutocracy's definition of "a world where everyone has their place", it effectively means a world where it decides who lives and who dies, whether a child is to be fed or left to starve, where a person's entire life is dictated by the whims of the Harwey family's desires.[5] This appears to be a correct accusation, as part of the reason why the earth's population decreased is due to the Western European Plutocracy controlling even the birth rate.[7] The Plutocracy's utopia is a paradise based on stasis and class immobility, no change and no hope for a better future, stability at the expense of hope and joy, a world where people don't live only merely exist.[5] It also subjugates any hostile forces on its mission to push forward and unify the planet under this system that they think is ideal,[6] to the point the Harweys view the populations of Asia as "expendable", unless they choose to support their aims in which case they will integrate them.[5]
Due to Wizards having human rights, even the West European Plutocracy couldn't monopolize them.[18]
Structure[]
- North Earth Resource Organization (北半球資源機構, Kitahankyū Shigen Kikō?) (NERO)
- Counter-Terrorism Unit (対テロ部隊?) - Private army
Members and inhabitants[]
- Leonardo B. Harwey
- Julius B. Harwey
- Alicia - Leonardo's mother
- Pope Laurentis
- Queen of England
- Dan Blackmore
- Sakagami family
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
[] Fate/EXTRA material - Encyclopedia: Western Europe Plutocracy [Organization], p.191-192 Western Europe Plutocracy [Organization]
The economic organization headed by Harwey.
Harwey is effectively the king on Earth in EXTRA.
At a very early stage Harwey predicted that the world’s resources would run dry, and developed an unsuitably large fear of what might happen. He came up with the solution of carefully managing the north pole, and gave his undivided attention to it.
The foundation of his organization had a lot of religious power, and it’s speculated that the Holy Church helped him out because a huge amount of financial resources soon gathered under Harvey.
The defacto leader of the Holy Church in the world of EXTRA, Cardinal Laurentis, does have a good relationship with Harwey.西欧財閥【組織】
ハーウェイを筆頭にした経済団体。
EXTRA世界における地上の王。
来るべき資源枯渇を早い段階から予見、杞憂し、その解決策として北極の管理に専心していた。
その基盤には強い信仰の力があり、ハーウェイの下に多くの資産が集まった理由として、聖堂教会の助けがあったと言われている。
この時代における聖堂教会の事実上の指導者、ラウレンティス枢機卿とハーウェイは懇意の関係にある。 - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
[] Fate/EXTRA material - Encyclopedia: World situation [Circumstances], p.195 World situation [Circumstances]
On the surface it is a calm and gentle world,
But it is in fact a world that is facing its final curtain call.
Starting with the Great Collapse (the pole shift) that occurred in 1970, human civilization declined due to a sudden lack of resources, coupled with the reduction of industrial production, a continuous stream of nations faced bankruptcy and failure.
Compounded with the effects of the Great Collapse, numerous biohazard zones caused by natural disasters appeared, and by the year 2000 the population of the Earth was only two-thirds of what it once was.
Oil was mostly exhausted, and its use became regulated. With this the Arab oil countries lost the power they once held.
Mankind turned to develop a new energy frontier: the North Pole. However the rights to the North Pole were mostly held by the West Europe Plutocracy (Harwey’s Plutocracy), and the Plutocracy came to be the defacto owners of 30% of the world.
The West Europe Plutocracy did not act like a cruel dictatorship, and declared to all that it would manage and distribute the remaining resources to ensure the survival of mankind, so they helped not only Europe but everyone around the world. The Plutocracy ushered in a new era of city-nations and strove to promote universal acceptance of refugees regardless of race.
Under the direction of the West Europe Plutocracy, cities around the world created an ideal system of city management which eliminated most poverty and strife.
The result: advanced technology became focused in the western part of the Eurasian continent. Countries that were suffocating from poverty were given resource assistance, and the Plutocracy continued to expand its umbrella of influence. This is when Harwey, as head of the Plutocracy, effectively gained enough power to be considered the ruler of the world.
Alongside its management of cities, the Plutocracy also put a freeze on all space-related technology development.
Proclaiming, “Mankind has no need for further technological advancement in this area.” the Plutocracy aimed to refine and regulate the management of society.
Meanwhile hostilities between West Europe and Islam intensified, and there was endless conflict.
Islamic countries blamed their downfall on the “machine-like management of cities and resources” and prepared to relentlessly fight back against the factions of West Europe.
However, the Islamic countries were losing their identity as nations, and were unable to continue fighting back properly, so they were resigned to just using guerrilla warfare. It is said that the Islamic resistance will be driven back and defeated in about 5 years.世界情勢【事柄】
それは穏やかでありながら、
いずれ訪れる終末を受け入れた世界。
1970年代に発生した大崩壊[ポールシフト]を皮切りに、急速な資源不足から人類の生活圏は減衰、産業の縮小もあいまって破産、破綻する国家が続出した。
二次災害的な自然災害、バイオハザードも多発し、2000年には地球の総人口は三分の二にまで激減。
石油資源は枯渇し、使用を制限され、アラブ諸国はかつての力を失った。
人類は新たなエネルギー採掘地・北極圏の開発に乗り出すが、その支配権の大部分は西欧(ハーウェイをはじめとする財閥)にあり、事実上、彼らは地球の30%を手にする事になった。
西欧財閥は独裁者にはならず、よき指導者として資源を管理し、ヨーロッパだけではなく地球人類全体の存続に努める事を宣言。人種を問わない難民の受け入れに努め、新時代の都市国家を形成した。
西欧財閥の管理下にある地域では貧困、紛争はなく、理想的な都市運営がなされる事になった。
結果、先進的な文明圏はユーラシア大陸西部に集中。以後は貧困にあえぐ国々に資源援助を行い、傘下に納めながら拡大していった。ハーウェイを筆頭とする西欧財閥が地球の指導権を握った瞬間である。
西欧財閥は都市を管理しながらも宇宙開発に関わる技術進歩をすべて凍結。
“人類にこれ以上の技術躍進は必要ない”とし、徹底した管理社会を目指している。
その一方、西欧圏とイスラム圏との対立はより激化し、紛争は絶えない。
イスラム圏は西欧財閥の『機械的な都市管理・資源管理』を非難し、徹底抗戦の構えに入っている。
が、国としてのカタチを失いつつあるイスラム圏ではゲリラ的な戦いしか続けられず、彼らが西欧財閥に駆逐されるまであと五年ほどと言われている。 - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fate/the Fact - ARTIFACT ON THE MOON: Concealed Truth, Artifact is Discovered on the Moon, p.03
- ↑ Fate/the Fact - Truth behind the Atlas temple, p.13
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Fate/EXTRA - 3.disillusionment/suspended animation: 3rd WEEK_The third selection - Day 7
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3
[] Fate/EXTRA material - Encyclopedia: Firm or Farm [Circumstances], p.206 Firm or Farm [Circumstances]
This is the city management system implemented by the West Europe Plutocracy.
It created a utopia without conflict.
Or possibly a dystopia that has reduced the self-awareness of the people.
In this harmonious city system the ruling class and worker class are clearly separated, and even if you are part of the ruling class your future is precisely managed.
There is no racial discrimination, and treatment only differs based on actual ability.
There is no stipulation that all humans are made equal, and it is deemed enough as long as people are equal within their group.
This amounts to extreme racial discrimination, but this is one possible version of a perfect society.
The West Europe Plutocracy subjugates any hostile forces on their mission to push forward and unify the planet under this system that they think is ideal.ファーム【事柄】
西欧財閥による都市管理、ないし、その在り方を椰楡したもの。
争いのないユートピア。
或いは、自意識を眠らされたディストピア。
支配階級と労働階級を明確に区分けし、支配階級であろうとその将来をきっかり管理する調和都市。
人種差別はなく、能力区別があるだけ。
人類皆平等は謳っておらず、それぞれの民族内部での平等を良しとする。
究極の人種分類[さべつ]だが、これも完成された社会の一つ。
西欧財閥は敵対勢力を鎮圧し、彼らが理想とする社会でこの星を統一しようと適進している。 - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4
[] Fate/EXTRA Sound Drama 2 Bonus Drama Sakura: It is common knowledge that the West European Zaibatsu controls 60% of the modern world. Its directly-controlled territory of Western Europe is stable by means of a completely controlled society, and the aristocracy has come back into existence. In comparison, America has become a failed state and is quite frankly a lawless land. Certain persons of interest fled to South America and planned to reorganize, but were met with opposition from the South Americans and have been driven into a corner. The Middle East was still plagued by internal strife, and was unprepared for the seizure of Jerusalem by the West European Zaibatsu, throwing it into terrible panic. It was thought that the seizure of the religious foundation would lead to all-out war, but the Middle-Eastern countries no longer had the power to retake Jerusalem, and it was all they could do to unite to hold back the West European Zaibatsu's expansion at the borders.
Archer: I see. So those are the circumstances in which Tohsaka Rin is helping the resistance in the Middle East.
Sakura: Yes. By the way, Tohsaka-san's home ground is fairly close to the Atlas Institute where Rani-san lives.
Saber: What of Asia, where my Maestro's home ground presumably lies? To what extent is the influence of the West European Zaibatsu?
Sakura: The various Asian countries are constantly engaged in skirmishes over resources. Starting with a disaster at the end of the 20th century, Japan fell into anarchy and became a ruined country. The West European Zaibatsu, which extols management of human rights, apparently provides aid to those looking to leave Japan. Since resources are everything in this world, the Chinese considered it pointless to conquer a resourceless island country and left it alone, but the West European Zaibatsu considers human resources important too, and see Japanese people as a good resource, so they want to preserve their education level. Among them, Kishinami-san is... ah, no, this is a spoiler, so let's talk about this once the story has progressed a bit more.
Caster: You mentioned resources, but the world is at war, right? In that case, can people really leisurely play games and such? Actually, how far has technology progressed? Wouldn't science and technology change as a result of war?
Sakura: The technology, apart from space development technology having drastically halted, is about the same level as the real world. There are cell phones and smartphones as normal, and as evidenced by how Shinji-san is known as an online game champion, regions controlled by the West European Zaibatsu have a complete infrastructure set in place. However, the earth's population has decreased to about half of the real world's population. This is due to the war as well as the West European Zaibatsu controlling even the birth rate.
Saber: I see. In that case, people are the same as cattle. I can understand why Tohsaka Rin has such antagonism towards Leo. - ↑ Fate/the Fact - Truth behind the Atlas temple, p.14
- ↑ Fate/EXTRA - 2.arousal/border alliance: 2nd WEEK_The second selection - Day 1
- ↑
[] Fate/EXTRA material - Encyclopedia: Dan Blackmore [Character], p.197-198 [T] Dan Blackmore [Character]
Dan is a former soldier, and a Master dispatched by England.
He served as a soldier for many years, and was knighted by the Queen. When he was young he made a name for himself as a sniper.
While the Royal Family of England is a part of the West Europe Plutocracy, it opposes the one who holds the power to lead the group, Harwey.
After hearing that Harwey had accessed Moon Cell, and that there was the possibility he might be trying to monopolize it, the Queen sent her most trusted private soldier to the Moon. That soldier is Sir Dan.
Dan comes from an old family, and his body possessed magic circuits. Dan resented his Magus blood, but one cannot refuse a direct request from her Majesty the Queen.
Although close to retirement, he was still a soldier, and thus he could only carry out his duty to the end.
With this, he went through one year of training and adjustment, and he became a spiritron hacker. At the ripe age of 60 he was a late bloomer of a Magus.
What Dan desires from the Holy Grail War is to be able to fight as a “Knight.”
While he has already received the title of Sir, he is a soldier who has crossed many battlefields. He came to lose many things through the battles in his past.
His ideals, his wife, and the life he imagined for himself when he was young. All of it burned away by the fires of war.
After living his life as such, all that he would be rewarded with was the end known as retirement from military service.
Dan greatly desires a clean separation between battle and everything else, and he only wants a clean fight. And now the Holy Grail War has presented itself as his last chance to be able to fight as a Knight.
Dan Blackmore suggests the importance of conviction to the protagonist.
The old solider speaks:
“Even if you have regrets, you should never use them as an excuse.
I did my best while on the path that I was presented with.
No matter how warped or crooked that path may be,
I continued to represent my own soul.”
Despite killing many a foe, and losing his wife, when Dan takes a weapon in his hands, he is under no illusion. After taking up arms, you must bear responsibility for your actions. This goes for both the enemies you killed, and you who chose this path yourself.
To the protagonist who had not yet discovered the reason and meaning behind fighting, the old soldier compassionately sees him off.
Only at the very end are the mistakes you are responsible for brought into question.
Until then, you have no reason to stand still.
For that is the story of another certain knight I know too well.
To the protagonist whose memories still haven’t returned, and who holds but a vague desire to obtain the Grail, these final words from Dan were like those of a proud father.ダン・ブラックモア【人物】
英国から派遣された元軍人のマスター。
女王から騎士の称号を授かった歴戦の兵士で、若い頃は狙撃手としても名を馳せた。
英国王室は西欧財閥の一翼ではあるが、その指導権を巡ってハーウェイと対立している。
ハーウェイがムーンセル・オートマトンにアクセスし、これを独占する恐れがあると聞きつけた女王はもっとも信頼するプライベート・ソルジャーを月に派遣した。それがダン卿である。
ダンは古い家柄の出で、その体には魔術回路が備わっていた。魔術師の血を嫌っていたダンだが、女王陛下に頼みとされては断れない。
退役間近であっても彼は軍人であり、軍人として生きたからには、最後まで職務を全うするのみ。
こうして一年間の訓練・調整を経て、彼は霊子ハッカーとなった。齢六十歳、遅咲きの魔術師として。
ダンが聖杯戦争に求めるものは『騎士』としての戦いである。
サーの称号を戴きはしたが、彼は多くの戦場を渡り歩いた軍人だ。その過程で多くのものを失ってきた。
理想も、伴侶も、若い頃に夢想した自分の人生も、戦火の中に焼け落ちた。
そうして生き延びた彼に与えられたものは退役という終わりだけ。
明確な線引き、明確な戦いを深層意識で求めていたダンにとって、聖杯戦争は騎士として戦える最後のチャンスとして映ったのだろう。
ダン・ブラックモアが主人公に提示するものは『信念』だ。
老兵は語る。
「後悔はあっても、それを言い訳にしてはいけない。
私は与えられた道で最善を尽くした。
たとえその道がいびつなものであったとしても、私は、私の魂を示し続けた」
敵兵を殺し、妻を失いながらも、武器を手にした事を彼は誤魔化しはしなかった。
武器を手にした以上、人は責任を負わなければならない。殺した相手にも、その道を選んだ自分という命にも。
いまだ戦う意義を見いだせずにいた主人公を、老兵は憐れみ、送り出す。
責任の智を問われるのは最後の時だ。
それまで、君が立ち止まれる理由はない、と。
それは或る騎士の物語。
記憶が戻らず、聖杯を求めていた理由さえ曖昧な主人公にとって、その遺言は背中を押す父親のようですらあった。 - ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2
[] Fate/EXTRA material - Encyclopedia: Frozen technology [Circumstances], p.172-173 [T] Frozen technology [Circumstances]
This refers to how technology development has stagnated since 1970 due to restrictions and regulations enforced by the West Europe Plutocracy.
Aerospace industry development is especially restricted. Despite there being a slow trickle of advancement and new technology, no genius talent has appeared with a breakthrough.
Furthermore, the development of weapons has led to an extreme decrease in the availability of resources, which peaked in the year 2000.
Another significant difference [in the alternate world of EXTRA] is that cyber attacks are a staple of war.
The face of modern war is characterized by attackers using the network to destroy the management capabilities of cities and then they proceed to carry out primitive terrorist-style attacks. Ironically, cyber attacks don’t cost much and do no harm to the environment. It’s not too much to say that cyber warfare is environmentally friendly.技術凍結【事柄】
1970年から技術進歩が滞っているのは、西欧財閥による規制行為とされている。
航空技術、宇宙開発はその最たるもの。積み重ねられた技術の進歩は少しずつあるものの、ブレイクスルーを促す天才は現れない。
また、兵器の進歩も資源が激減したため、2000年から頭打ちとなっている。
戦争のメインが電脳戦になったというのも大きい。
ネットワーク上から都市の運営機能を破壊し、後は原始的なテロ活動に移行する……というのがこの時代の戦争である。皮肉な話だが、コストもかからず環境も破壊しない電脳戦は地球に優しい戦争と言える。 - ↑ 12.0 12.1 Fate/EXTRA- 4th WEEK_The fourth selection - Leonardo B. Harwey conversation
- ↑ Fate/EXTRA - 5.un born/dead end: 5th WEEK_The fifth selection - Day 6
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Fate/EXTRA - 5.un born/dead end: 5th WEEK_The fifth selection - Day 5
- ↑ Fate/EXTRA CCC Fox Tail Chapter 52: "Sakagami Kazuhito 2"
- ↑ Fate/EXTRA CCC - Chapter 2: Prison of Projections -Girl’s Side Laboratory-
- ↑ Fate/EXTRA CCC - Chapter 4: Anesthesia Fortress -Sick/Home Sink-
- ↑
[] Fate/EXTRA material - Encyclopedia: Magus [Circumstances], p.162 Magus [Circumstances]
Wizards. In Fate/EXTRA “Wizard” refers to A-class hackers.
Compared to your average hacker, wizards posses special abilities and can dive into the cyber world at a soul level.
Ordinary hackers fall into two categories:
- Visual Perception Digitization (only visual)
(This is done through a simple spinal insert interface connection.
Information is directly streamed into the brain, so they avoid the trouble of transforming each type of information into a digital signal. Favors input only.)
- Visual and Touch Perception Digitization.
(This is done through a wired connection from the nerves to the net. It allows a hacker to project the basic components of their being onto the net. Input/Output capable, and more powerful.
However, the user is unable to project a human form in the cyber world.
This is at best a simple projection, and as such is not recognized as a life form. Their existing circuit is read from their body, and they just manipulate that projection. They are unable to change or revise their circuit.)
However, wizards are capable of far more than that, they can digitize and spiritize their consciousness and physical body, creating a copy that is sent inside [the cyber world].
It is the materialization of soul inside the cyber world.
As for cyber bodies in SE.RA.PH, they refer to the spirit form of three components: body, mind, and soul.
Hacking knowledge and skills are not particularly important for wizards, physical ability and mental prowess are far more useful.
Having magic circuits (also known as imaginary nerves) in your body, and the ability to clearly conceptualize your digital self is essential to help translate the true essence of yourself accurately into a digital image in the cyber world.
The way of conceptualizing one’s digital image differs from wizard to wizard.
There are a variety of methods; some use computer processing,
others use meditation to give birth to their image,
and some even take drugs to escape from reality.
In present day 2030 Viritual Spiritron hacking has become possible through an external interface, but magus-class hackers remain a rarity.
Due to magus having human rights, even the West European Plutocracy couldn’t monopolize them. Aside from those under the control and management of the United Nations, there remains a never ending list of countries who try to harbor free magus behind closed doors.
◆
The definition of life is considered to be “the ability to change the environment you live in through your own actions and of your own accord.”
Since wizards can intervene in the cyber world through their souls, Moon Cell accepts them as living, and thus their advance into the cyber world is possible.
Pioneering, expanding to new frontiers is, in a way, the greatest meaning and sin of mankind.
To wizards who posses this ability, it’s not too much to say that the cyber world is like a second reality.
A physical body is merely a “home” of sorts to a wizard.
If the physical body of a wizard on Earth were to die, it would simply mean that they would not be able to return “home,” and they would remain in the cyber frontier. As long as their existence in the cyber world is not destroyed, their soul would not disappear.
(However, the empty shell that is a Wizard’s real physical body protects them from change in the cyber world, and the loss of it will quite easily and unavoidably transform the structure of their intelligence, as well as their sense of values.)
To a wizard, the only true death is the death of their cyber existence.
Only after their souls have burned out and crumbled away will they become scrap that is no longer able to be revived.魔術師【事柄】
ウィザード。EXTRAにおけるA級ハッカー。
通常のハッカーに比べて、魂レベルで電脳空間にダイブできる異能者。
通常のハッカーは、
・視覚のみの電子変換。
(脊髄挿入型のインターフェイスによる簡易接続。
情報を直接脳に送り込めるので、各種情報をデジタル変換する手間が省ける。恩恵はインプットのみ)
・視覚、触覚の電子変換。
(有線でネットに神経を繋げ、存在階梯を電子上のものとする。インプット、アウトプット、ともに能力向上。ただし電脳空間では人間としてのカタチは作れない。
あくまで一端末としての介入で、生命とは認められない。既存の回路を閲覧し、操作するだけ。回路そのものの変更・改革は不可能)
となるのだが、ウィザードはその上、自己の精神、自己の肉体を電子化ならぬ霊子化し、分身として送り込める。
即ち、電脳空間における魂の物質化である。
SE.RA.PHにおける電脳体とは、肉体・精神・魂の三要素を霊子化したものを指す。
必要なものはハッカーとしての知識・技術ではなく、肉体・精神的な才能。
魔術回路と呼ばれる架倥神鰹を肉体に持ち、自身の本質を電脳として明確に数値化できる異才が必要となる。
このイメージ化の方法はウィザードごとに異なる。
演算処理によってデジタル化する者もいれば、
瞑想によってイメージを生み出すもの、
薬物投与によって逃避するもの、と様々。
2030年現在、疑似霊子ハッキングは外付けのインターフェイスで可能となったが、魔術師クラスのハッカーは希少である。
魔術師には人権があるため、西欧財閥すら独占できない。国連が管理、所属させるものとされているが、フリーの魔術師たちを秘密裏に囲おうとする国は後を絶たない。
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生命の定義とは、住んでいる環境を自身の意志・行動によって変革できるもの、とされる。
魂を以て電脳空間に介入したウィザードはムーンセルによって生命と認められ、電脳空間における開拓が可能となる。
開拓……フロンティア、パイオニア……こそ人間が行うもっとも大きな意義にして罪。
その可能性をもったウィザードにとって、電脳空間は第二の現実と言っても過言ではない。
ウィザードにとって肉体はあくまでホーム。
仮に地上にある自分の肉体が死んでしまっても家に帰れなくなるだけで、開拓地に留まり、そこで消滅しないかぎり、魂が消え去る事はない。
(ただし『変化から自分を護る』殻である実肉体が失われると、その知性体の構造・価値観はたやすく変貌していくため、変質は避けられないが)
ウィザードにとって本当の死は電脳死。
電脳空間で魂が焼け落ちた時こそ、彼らは再生不可能の塵になるのである。 - Visual Perception Digitization (only visual)