Kritik der praktischen Vernunft.

Some time later Áviya was at the edge of Gensoukyou.

"So, Anima, whose bright idea was to write my name in giant green letters in the sky? " said Áviya.

"Your presence is necessary for one of my experiments. I found another tainted specimen of your species." said Anima pointing at an unconscious young man lying on the grass.

"Firstly, my species contain only one individual. Secondly, I thought you said that I am the only tainted who survived."

"I only said that you are the first. He is the second."

"The second one already? Should I expect the third one soon? "

"Yes, if you used 'expect' as a synonym to 'be pregnant with'. If not, then it is unnecessary."

"What the hell you mean 'be pregnant'?! I am asexual if you didn't notice! "

"You are merely incapable of sexual arousal. Conception is still possible. I have corrected the flaw in your taint that would have resulted in apoptosis of foetus. The purpose of this experiment is to create self-sustainable population of tainted humans. I will bring survived tainted and select their offspring for increased susceptibility to taint."

"I am not a human! Also, self-sustainable? So you won't use artificial insemination? "

"No. You have to have sex with him."

"Have fun waiting for that! I am not letting any parasites into my body! "

"I will disable this avatar now. My observation shows that humans prefer to mate in private," Anima disappeared with this words

"For third time, I am not a human! " said Áviya. "Damn. Well, I suppose I could at least learn his name and powers." And she descended to lying human.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "[German]Scheiße! You're that Áviya," he said.

"[German]Of course I am. What made you think that there is another? " said Áviya.

"[German]Wishful thinking, probably." He sat up. "[German]My name is Chris Weber if that Japanese schoolgirl haven't told you already."

"[German]That Japanese schoolgirl is an avatar of an omniscient and omnipotent alien computer. She just uses the appearance of Nagato Yuki."

"[German]I thought I saw her somewhere before. Just to make this clear, I think that you are an immoral monster and I don't want to have anything to do with you so I no going to do what she wants from me."

"[German]Like I want to do it. I wouldn't have sex with human even for immortality. Well, I'm willing to consider it in that case... Actually, let me check something," said Áviya and kissed Chris.

"[German]Why did you do this?! " said Chris breaking the kiss.

"[German]You were a control group. You see, a female snake kissed me today and I wanted to check if my reaction depends on the sex of other participant."

"[German]I guess not, seeing that you didn't even close your eyes... Wait, a female snake?! "

"[German]It's a long story. By the way, are you human? "

"[German]Of course I am. Why are you asking that? Wait a minute, you aren't a zoophile, are you? "

"[German]Do I look like an idiot? Only idiots would have sex if their genitalia are incompatible."

"[German]Why did you ask if I was human, then? "

"[German]Anima said that you are tainted. I wonder what powers you have."

"[German]What difference does that makes? I am still human even if I can turn myself invisible."

"[German]Neat. Is that the invisibility that makes you blind or the one that leave you visible to cameras? "

"[German]Neither."

"[German]That's impossible! Show me."

Chris disappeared.

"[German]Now, what am I doing? " said Áviya.

"[German]You raised your right hand." said Chris still invisible.

"[German]Is that all? "

"[German]Yes, unless you have a tail and are making some rude gestures with it behind your back."

"[German]Interesting. You can become visible now."

"[German]Your tests doesn't make sense, Áviya..." said Chris appearing. "[German]Why the devil is your hand glowing?! "

"[German]Your didn't notice while your were invisible. Even if you had only monochromatic vision, you would have noticed the change of colour. So you can perceive shape of objects but not the light they emit. I'm betting it's echolocation."

"[German]So you think I'm a bat, now? Though, I admit that some of my activities bear some resemblance to that of Batman."

"[German]Let me guess, you've got extraordinary powers and found nothing better to do than fighting for justice? Your powers gave you freedom from society, you don't have to obey its laws."

"[German]I don't expect immoral sociopath like you to understand that. I want to help people. That's why I'm studying law.

"[German]Law? .." said Áviya derisively. "[German]Perhaps you know the case 'Áviya vs the only wooden church in Berlin'."

"[German]You burned it. Why did do that? Even if you are an atheist you should respect other people's beliefs."

"[German]I'm a misotheist"

"[German]Misotheist? So you do believe in God? "

"[German]I don't believe in any god. Gods exist independently of belief in them. Belief only gives them power."

"[German]How can you say that gods exist if you don't believe in them? "

"[German]It's simple. Let me start with an example. Did Faust made a pact with Mephistopheles? "

"[German]Yes? But how is this relevant? .."

"[German]So Faust making an action is an objective fact. That makes his existence an objective fact. Granted, he isn't a material being but ideal. The same is with gods: they are ideal being that can manipulate humans. By killing religious humans I deprive them of power."

"[German]That's a very sick excuse for killing people."

"[German]I kill humans for other reason as well. By the way, what's your own stance on gods? "

"[German]I'm agnostic."

"[German]So you will believe in a god if you meet her? .." said Áviya thoughtfully looking past Chris. "[German]Actually this gives me an idea. Hey, Sanae! " she shouted waving.

"What's the matter? " asked Sanae descending.

"[German]Chris, this is Kochiya Sanae, priestess of the Wind Goddess and a living god," said Áviya. "Sanae, this is Chris Weber. He wants to meet lady Kanako."

"[German]It's a pleasure to meet you." said Chris.

"He doesn't speak Japanese, does he? " asked Sanae.

"I don't know," said Áviya. "[German]Chris, can you understand her? "

"[German]No." said Chris.

"He doesn't." said Áviya.

"Well, then. Lady Kanako, grant me the tongues of the minds." prayed Sanae.

"What was that? " said Áviya.

"I asked lady Kanako to grant me ability to communicate without language barriers," said Sanae.

"Then why do I hear you speaking in Castillian?! Use another language! " said Áviya

"This spell makes everyone hear me in their native language. I can't control it." said Sanae.

"[German]Listen, Áviya, if she can understand you regardless of language, maybe you will switch to German? " said Chris.

"[English]You too?! To hell with that! I'm going somewhere where I won't be hearing mutated remains of a dead language! " Áviya flew away.

"I she always like that? " asked Sanae.

"[German]I don't know. It was the first time I met her in person. I only know her from news and rumours." said Chris. "[German]Oh, devil. It just hit me who exactly I was talking to."

"Who? "

"[German]There are a lots of rumours about her. That she is one of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, that everything starts to rot near her, that she leaves a trail of rotten flesh behind her, that everyone who met her will die excruciating death from an unknown disease. She certainly have some power over disease and her death will probably cause a pandemic but everything else is subject to speculation."

"Lady Kanako needs to hear about this. But first, do you want to meet her? "

"[German]I guess. Talking with someone sane wouldn't hurt. Where does she lives? "

"On the shrine atop that mountain."

"[German]How will I get there? I can't fly."

"Don't worry, the wind will carry you."

"[German]You can control wind? "

"Of course I can. It's one of powers granted to me by lady Kanako."

Fragment from Anima's log 381

Name: Chris Weber [kris 'veber].

Type: Human, tainted.

Age: 22.

Sex: Male.

Abilities:

1. Normal human abilities.

2. Ability to create a permeable surface around him that absorbs photons and emit them as if they have travelled in a straight line through the air.

3. Ability to emit ultrasound.

4. Ability to perceive shape of objects surrounding him from the echoes caused by emitted ultrasound.

Weaknesses:

1. Normal human weaknesses, except those neutralised by his abilities.

2. The surface surrounds only the objects that he perceives as part of himself.

Description: He is slighter taller than average. His hair is brown. He has brown eyes. He usually wears white shirt, black trousers, brown shoes and a scabbard with his bokken.

End of fragment

Sanae and Chris stopped in a clearing on the coast of the lake.

"Wait here." said Sanae. "I need to speak with lady Kanako first." And she flew in the direction of the Moriya shrine.

Chris had to wait several minutes before a little blonde girl in a strange hat appeared.

"[German]Are you lost? " he asked.

The girl raised her tear-stained face. "Yes," she sniffed. "My sister left me here."

"[German]Don't cry. We'll find your sister. How does she look like? "

"She is tall and beautiful."

"[German]No offence but this could apply to the third of all women I've met. Can you remember the colour of her eyes at least? "

"I don't remember! She is a shrine maiden in that shrine." The girl pointed at the Moriya shrine.

"[German]Then why don't we go there? "

"Because I'm lost here, obviously," said the girl without tears in her voice, which strangely came from behind Chris. He turned and saw another girl identical to the first. An evil grin appeared on her face and another four copies appeared from the woods.

"[German]What the devil is going on here?! " said Chris drawing his sword.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm testing you." said the girls in one voice. "Kind and brave, I like it. What do you think, Sanae? "

"I think that that's enough messing with his mind," said Sanae who just returned. "Chris, this is lady Suwako, one of goddesses of my shrine."

"[German]You mean she isn't your sister? "

"No, she is my great-great-...-great-grandmother. I'm not sure how many 'great' are there," said Sanae.

"[German]Call me stupid but I don't understand how ten-year-old girl can be someone's mother, much less great-great-great-grandmother." said Chris.

"Sorry, we don't have time for this," said Sanae. "Lady Kanako is already waiting. It would be impolite to delay any further. Let's go! "

With a gust of wind Chris was moved to the entrance of the shrine. Sanae landed nearby.

"Lady Kanako is waiting for you inside," she said. "Enter."

Chris entered.

"Sit, please," said Kanako.

Chris looked around and not finding any chairs sat on the floor.

"[German]So, you're a god," he said.

"Yes."

"[German]I still don't understand how there can be a god. Isn't the God supposed to be omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent? "

Kanako laughed. "Being responsible for the whole world is to much even for a god. I offer much simpler deal: miracles in exchange for faith."

"[German]So you haven't created the world and don't have some kind of divine plan? "

"I'm nothing like Yahweh if that's what you implying. Well, I was a war goddess once, so we have that in common. And as far as I know Yahweh doesn't exist in this world, so I am the best god you can find."

"[German]How can you be so sure? "

"It's not hard to notice his absence. Before I moved to Gensoukyou I could feel that he dominates half of the world. In this world there is no gods outside of Gensoukyou."

"[German]Gensoukyou? What is that? "

"It was region of Japan in another world sealed off to preserve youkai. Several days ago it was moved into this world."

"[German]So you are a Japanese god? Are you speaking German or is it just seems like that to me? "

"Everyone hear me in their own languages. Gods transcend language barriers."

Chris started to ask something but Kanako interrupted him.

"Sanae will explain everything to you later. Now tell me about that Áviya. I thought that she is just an ordinary crazy human but she seems to be something much more dangerous."

"[German]She is a mass-murderer and a terrorist. Her reputation is such that she can go into store, take what she wants and leave without paying and nobody would stop her even if she slaughtered someone in the alcohol aisle. She had destroyed churches and temples. She has complete disregard for human life. Several towns were wiped by the epidemics she had caused."

"And humans of the Outside World haven't done anything about? "

"[German]She was arrested several times and even went to prison one time. Everyone in that prison except her died from infectious diseases. Nobody is willing to antagonise her."

"It looks like she is too dangerous to leave alive."

"[German]Maybe but she still has the right to live! "

"Why is that? "

"[German]Because it's an inalienable natural right and murder is a crime."

"But she will certainly kill more people."

"[German]That's why she should be imprisoned."

"Doesn't matter. Gods have the right to kill ones who sin." said Kanako rising.

Kanako found Áviya near the Human Village.

"Áviya! You have sinned too much! " boomed Kanako's voice. "As much as I hate burrowing Enma's lines" she added.

"You have no idea how often I hear this," said Áviya. "Do you want to kill me too? "

"You are too dangerous to leave alive."

"Come on, I'm no more dangerous than youkai."

"You are not a youkai. You don't even have a soul."

"I'm not a human either. If you kill me all my bacteria will be released. There is enough pathogens to crash the whole ecosystem."

"That's not a problem for me. My winds will contain them." Swirling winds appeared around Áviya.

Orin and Utsuho arrived at the scene.

"See, Okuu? I told you they were fighting," said Orin.

Utsuho flew to the mini-hurricane, turned towards Kanako and shouted spreading her wings and arms, "Don't kill her! She is a good person! I will protect her! "

"Don't say that Utsuho." said Áviya "Say that you're protecting me because I was nice to you or because you like me or because of some other objective fact." Her voice was drowned by the winds but Kanako somehow heard her.

"What did you expect from a birdbrain? " said Kanako.

"She is not a birdbrain, you mammalbrained god! " shouted Áviya. "How did this happen? There was one god I was willing to tolerate and I'm already angry at her."

"Those who seeks favours from gods shouldn't sin."

"Why do you follow human morality? You're supposed to be objective."

"Human morality has an objective basis. Kant's categorical imperative, for example."

"Categorical imperative assumes that everyone is identical. Every animal will derive different moral laws from it."

"Animal can't make moral choices."

"I can make a choice! " said Utsuho. "And I've chosen to defend her."

"I apologise," said Kanako. "Our dialogue must have haven't made much sense to sense. So, you wouldn't let me kill her."

"Never! " said Utsuho

"Killing you isn't an option. Say, I let her live if you imprison her in Chireiden. What do you say? "

"Don't agree to that, Okuu! " said Orin. "She's not worth it. Besides, I will have to keep Sexta from killing her when you're busy with the reactor"

"She doesn't deserve death," said Okuu. "I agree to everything."

"Then take her and go," said Kanako dismissing the winds.

Utsuho grabbed the hand of dizzied Áviya and dragged her towards the entrance to the Underground Geyser Center.