[120] "The Garden of Sinners"

Chapter 120: "The Garden of Sinners"

At this moment, Durin's situation was akin to that of an ordinary 21st-century youth who had traveled back to the Middle Ages. Although he had only received a basic education and knew a limited amount, the hodgepodge of miscellaneous knowledge brought about by the information explosion made him seem extraordinary in a world that was essentially at a medieval level of civilization. Even a casual statement from him could astonish and greatly enlighten Rosa, one of the most knowledgeable scholars in this world.

Moreover, in this lifetime, Durin was not just an ordinary person but a highly gifted young Grand Mage.

Faced with Rosa's incredibly shocked expression and knowing exactly what she was thinking, Durin spoke as plainly as he could, "So, Archmage Rosa, is there anything else you'd like to discuss?"

Hearing Durin's words, Rosa, despite her lingering astonishment, quickly regained her composure. After a moment of silence, she slowly said, "Master Durin, since your research into the realm of souls is so profound, I wish to ask you: Do you believe there is a connection between the soul and the body? If a soul were artificially created and then placed into a certain vessel, would it still be considered human?"

Yes, this was the core question Rosa had wanted to ask Durin from the beginning. Though it wasn't the ultimate core issue, it was the most pressing question she sought an answer to.

"Creating... a soul?"

Durin was momentarily stunned and stared intently at the woman before him for a long time. After confirming he hadn't misheard her, he murmured, "I don't know what a soul truly is, but I can say that it is a tangible entity in this world, capable of preserving human memories, thoughts, and other intrinsic essences. While the body also has a backup of memories, it does not contain the mind or consciousness itself. Even if a soul is not artificially created, an inherent soul entering a new vessel can survive if there is sufficient compatibility. As for whether it is still considered human, that depends on how one defines 'human.'"

Durin could express this viewpoint because, as a transmigrator, he had personally experienced the relationship between the soul and the body. His modern analogy would be that the soul is like a USB drive, storing non-material concepts such as memories and thoughts. When the soul enters a new body, it is akin to plugging the USB drive into a new computer; these memories and thoughts are transferred into the new body.

Generally, if the body already has a soul, the incoming consciousness from the USB drive cannot control the body. But if the body's soul is dead or absent, the incoming soul can take over the body.

Yes, when Durin transmigrated, the original soul in this body had mysteriously vanished, allowing him to easily replace it and gain the experiences and memories of the former occupant, as these were backed up in the body.

Upon hearing Durin's explanation, Rosa showed a look of amazement. It was clear that she had never heard such an insight before, and she was both surprised and delighted. She then candidly revealed, "This is indeed a very novel theory. Master Durin's perspective is something I never expected. So, I'll be straightforward: As a researcher in the field of mental and spiritual studies, my focus has always been on the creation of dolls, or rather, the creation of human bodies."

"Because the soul itself is intangible and formless, making it difficult to study directly, our school's research has always focused on the human body. Of course, our approach is distinct from that of the necromancers. Necromancers dissect the corpses of the living to study the structure of the human body, moving from existence to non-existence. Our research, on the other hand, aims to create 'bodies' that can house souls, a process that moves from non-existence to existence."

"Master Durin, you are likely aware that becoming an Archmage requires two things: the ability to cast a sixth-tier spell and producing a research achievement at the level of an archmage. I have already succeeded in the former and have thus been recognized as an archmage. However, because I have yet to complete the latter, I have not been awarded my official Archmage diploma. I have been working tirelessly to complete my research as soon as possible, dedicating myself to it day and night recently."

"However, I recently hit a major bottleneck in my research. It wasn't a typical research obstacle but rather a fundamental contradiction in our school's principles. Our field's foundation assumes an intrinsic connection between the body and the soul. But as my research progressed, I began to suspect there might be no connection at all. Powerful liches, for example, abandon their bodies entirely and exist solely as souls. Doesn't this imply that our entire school has been following a flawed path?"

"Just as I was grappling with these doubts, the film you made, Master Durin, provided me with some answers. The artificial beings depicted in your film, though fictional, exhibited self-awareness and even the ability to create new life. While it was just a story, it hinted at the possibility that a mere body might indeed be capable of housing a soul. There seems to be an elusive connection between the body and the soul. However, defining the soul itself remains an enigma, even for someone like me who has studied this field extensively."

"So, I wanted to discuss this with you, Master Durin. Not only to meet a brilliant young Grand Mage but also to delve into these topics. And indeed, our conversation has already been immensely enlightening."

Understanding the situation and realizing it was more complex than he initially thought, Durin was about to deflect the conversation when a sudden idea struck him, changing his expression. He then continued, "You mentioned that your research bottleneck is due to the elusive nature of the soul's definition, correct? The truth is, it's impossible to fully comprehend such things. We haven't even mapped the edges of our universe, so how could we grasp something like this?"

"The universe? Edges? What are you talking about, Master Durin?" Rosa asked, puzzled.

Seeing Rosa's confusion, Durin quickly glossed over his rambling and continued, "Ahem, in short, everything has cause and effect. If the soul is the 'effect,' there must be a 'cause' for its existence. I know someone who is also skilled in creating puppets and aims to perfect human forms through this process, reaching the very root of 'cause.'"

"This person concluded that the origin of everything is 'void.' Because there is nothing, there are infinite possibilities. To have 'infinite,' there must be 'finite.' Without the finite, the infinite cannot exist. The source of everything is not infinity but a state of 'absolute nothingness.'"

Durin spouted the content from Aozaki Touko's research in the Type-Moon universe. Even though he barely understood it himself, he felt it sounded impressive. The ambiguity of many original concepts led to chaotic debates among Type-Moon fans, but Durin figured this was the perfect moment to throw in such profound-sounding phrases.

Listening to him, Rosa was beyond shocked. She was almost in a trance, absorbing Durin's words with a mix of confusion and admiration. Excitedly, she said, "Master Durin, you actually know such an extraordinary person! The idea that the finite is the infinite, and everything's origin is 'void,' perfectly aligns with my research. I believe this will lead to a breakthrough in my studies! If possible, I would love to meet this person and thank them in person."

"Ahem, well, as long as you find it useful," Durin replied, slightly surprised by the impact of his impromptu explanation. He then continued, "Since you're so passionate about researching souls, I happen to have a script related to souls. I think you'll find it interesting."

"A script? Like the movies you've made, such as 'Fate Zero'?" Rosa asked.

"Well, you could say it's a movie, but I'm planning something different this time. It won't be shown in theaters."

"Not in theaters?" Rosa asked, curiosity piqued. "So, what do you need me to do, Master Durin? Your insights have cleared up so many of my doubts. I'll help in any way I can."

"Uh, it's not a big deal. Do you have some paper and a pen? I need to write down the script now; otherwise, I might forget it later."

"....."

"...."

Although puzzled by Durin's words, Rosa used her Mage Hand to fetch a set of paper and pen from a table in the hall's center. Being an Archmage, her Mage Hand had incredible speed and precision, and in an instant, the supplies appeared before Durin.

"Thank you. Let me finish writing the script first, and we can discuss everything else afterward."

"Uh, can I ask what kind of script it is?" Rosa inquired, her curiosity still piqued.

"Well, I can't summarize the content for you just yet, but I can tell you its name—'Kara no Kyokai,' or 'The Garden of Sinners.' That's the title of the new script."

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