Chapter 604: E=mc²(4)
Chapter 604: E=mc²(4)
I nodded upon hearing the figure "1.5%." I wasn't quite sure if that was impressive or not.
I wondered how a scientist like Einstein would have reacted. Since I knew absolutely nothing about science, it felt strange.
'Is that a lot?'
[From our perspective, it’s a cute little step, but from Earth’s perspective, it’s huge. I bet the Gods of Earth were beaming with pride when humanity finally cracked that law.]
Was it really that significant? As expected, even after hearing it, it didn't quite sink in.
However, I could understand one thing: the completion of this world's physics had been pulled up to 1.5%.
It wasn't a perfect 1.5%, but rather an incomplete form. Still, the process itself was significant, and the moment it was fully realized, the impact would be even greater.
[It’s more than that. Not just physics, but other fields of study will see a massive surge as well. All sorts of experiments will be carried out just to prove that one theory.]
'Ah, I see. So physics and other disciplines are all interconnected, right?'
[You could say that. Physics is the mathematical formulation of natural phenomena, and nothing goes against nature. Look at my mother. She’s the Goddess of Nature, yet even she can’t control nature entirely as she pleases.]
'Doesn't she cause volcanoes or earthquakes when she gets angry? And didn't time literally stop for a day once?'
A year ago, while I was talking to Luminous, Mora had intervened and suffered from Divine Fever.
She had been bedridden with a fever for a week, and I nearly died. I remembered an earthquake occurring right around that time.
Most people assumed it happened because Hirt was angry, and in fact, the twin sibling gods did get scolded by Hirt.
Besides that, a day had literally stopped once. It was when my mental state was about to crumble into dust due to Mora’s ascetic training. Hirt had been genuinely furious then.
Hearing that made me realize a god is indeed a god, but there were many contradictions.
[Natural disasters have nothing to do with it. That was just a coincidence. But the day stopping? That was definitely because of us.]
'I think I need a bit more explanation.'
[We are transcendent beings, but we are also "entities" with personalities. To you, it might seem like the will of a god, but from our perspective, it’s "artificial."]
I understood what she meant. For example, let's say there's a fast-flowing mountain stream.
If left alone, the water would naturally erode certain rocks and speed up in certain sections.
But if someone blocks it with a massive boulder, the water stops flowing. The erosion is natural; the massive boulder is artificial.
[It’s easier if you think that everything except the purely natural is because of us. Even sorcery, which is considered incomplete, can be explained through the laws of physics.]
'Come on. No matter how you look at it, sorcery is just gambling.'
[Haven't you heard of problems like "Calculate the probability of a certain result when a specific action is performed"?]
'I mean, I have, but... isn't sorcery an act of artificially controlling nature anyway?'
[My mother is also an existing entity, isn't she?]
'...'
When she put it that way, I had no rebuttal. It was absurd for a humanities guy—and a mortal at that—to try and understand the laws of nature.
I’d rather just write my stories than receive math lessons from a god. I nodded as if I had reached some grand realization.
None of this mattered anyway. It was only natural for useless information to evaporate from my mind.
[To put it simply, sorcery is also about obtaining a result by sacrificing "energy." But whether it actually works or not has to be calculated through probability. It’s like trying to find the right path with your eyes closed.]
'So it’s just gambling wearing the mask of probability.'
[Exactly. It’s so dirty and cheap that people started looking elsewhere. The Animus only use sorcery because their civilization is only three hundred years old.]
It seemed they avoided it because, while scientifically explainable, the odds were closer to a gamble.
One might ask how gambling could be scientific, but strictly speaking, it wasn't science.
[It’s more about choice than science. Whether you pick a rotten fruit or a juicy one. But the thing is, most of the fruits are rotten.]
'That’s just a scam.'
[I never said there were no winning prizes, did I? I bet my mother felt the same way.]
For some reason, I was reminded of games from my past life that were notorious for their gacha systems. They were probably even more malicious than the Call of Duty games being released now.
[On Earth, most things related to nature often miss the mark. They can’t even get tomorrow’s weather exactly right, can they? As science develops further, they’ll be able to raise those probabilities. Eventually, they might even be able to control the weather artificially.]
'That sounds like a story from the far distant future.'
[It’s probably a story close at hand for the Gods of Earth. Unlike us, they’ve watched over humanity for tens of thousands of years.]
'Are you jealous?'
There was a hint of envy in Mora’s voice. Of course, it was shameless to expect the academic level of Earth in a world that hadn't even seen ten thousand years.
Still, it was only natural to be envious when the neighbor's kids were all wildly successful. Like it or not, this world was different from Earth.
Even if I had given them the answer, they would have to go through countless processes to reach that point.
Just proving the result would require an immense amount of time.
[I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. But it can’t be helped. If nothing else, academics is an area where humanity must progress on its own.]
'Can't the gods just teach us?'
[Want me to make you study?]
'I'm sorry.'
The answer came out instantly. A pine caterpillar should only eat pine needles; if it eats oak leaves, it dies.
Even geniuses would go mad; this wasn't something an ordinary person like me could handle. Still, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe toward the gods.
She usually had a bit of a goofball image, but hearing her now, she felt like a brilliant professor. As expected, gods were beings that shouldn't be understood.
[The mess you made is an inconvenience to us, but it’s not a headache. To be blunt, they probably don't even know nuclear fission exists. That requires chemistry to advance alongside it, so even proving it will take a long time.]
'That’s a relief... I guess? What about the possibility of making a nuclear bomb?'
[It’s not entirely impossible. There’s already the magic called Unification, right? Since they already know its power and the danger it poses, they won't rush into it recklessly. Especially since Albenheim is so conservative, it’ll take forever just to get permission.]
'Phew...'
What a relief. I was worried someone might invent the nuclear bomb, but it seemed my fears were unfounded.
The fact that the power of a nuclear bomb had already been indirectly demonstrated through Unification had turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Just as Mora said, since Unification was designated as forbidden magic, it would take a long time just to look at the theory.
[You don't need to worry about radiation either. Divine power will take care of it somehow. Though, the more they rely on that, the slower their progress will be.]
'...Why are you bringing up radiation all of a sudden? That’s an incredibly dangerous substance.'
[But its value is just as high as its danger. It causes mutations, but if it can be controlled artificially, humanity can advance to the next level. We used it all the time when we were creating life.]
'Hearing that you "create" sounds mythical, but hearing that you used radiation makes it sound scientific.'
[It’s possible because we have realized all the truths of the world. I can teach you if you want.]
I declined wholeheartedly. Even if I have to deal with some Forced Angst, I plan to live as a writer for the rest of my life.
If any of my children want to become mages or scholars, I’ll kindly introduce them, though.
It might not be a bad idea to have Mora give them one-on-one lessons in the Room of Spirit and Time.
[You really are a wicked child, aren't you?]
'It feels strange hearing that from you, Mora. Anyway, I’m glad my formula won't cause any disasters. Instead, I feel a bit sorry for indirectly affecting the two of you.'
I was worried it might be dangerous because of all the fuss. But hearing Mora’s words put me at ease.
Of course, I shouldn't let my guard down. A demon worshipper might crack the theory of Unification first.
The possibility was slim, but the world doesn't always go the way I want it to.
[No, no. Like I said, it’s an inconvenience because of the sanctity, but it’s not a headache. On the contrary, it’s great. You’ve opened the path to reaching 1.5%. To the Gods of Earth, it must feel like they did all the work only for someone else to reap the rewards.]
'I really don't know, but is it really that amazing?'
[It’s incredibly amazing! The history of humanity on Earth is tens of thousands of years! Tens of thousands! But we’ve already gained 1.5% in less than ten thousand years!]
We really did get a free ride. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I ended up here because the gods of this world messed up, but in the end, the development of civilization has been fast-forwarded by hundreds of years.
If I had discovered a talent for being a knight like my father, I would have lived as a knight. This was all thanks to my physical talent blooming late.
'Well, I guess if it’s good, it’s good. But since these things are a headache, I’ll try to hold back on formulas and such.'
[You can just reveal them all if you want.]
'To be honest, I don't know any more.'
Mora was silent for a moment, then let out an "Ah," as if she had realized something. She must have recognized the limits of a humanities major.
She seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking in an understanding tone.
[Fine. It doesn't matter anyway, since even if you write something vague, others will work hard to research it.]
'Hearing that makes me very uneasy.'
[There’s no need to be uneasy. Though I suppose people will be shocked to see a nuclear bomb go off without any magic.]
I had already expected that much, so I wasn't worried. Besides, with tanks already out, what else was there to be surprised by?
The formula wasn't an issue either, as the mass-energy equivalence I revealed this time was so famous that even I knew it.
I didn't know anything else. I might be able to remember with Mora’s help, but I didn't even want to remember.
'Then I’ll be going now. Thank you so much for your help.'
[We’re the ones who received the greater help. I’d like to give you a gift if I could...]
My ears perked up at the word "gift." If nothing else, I couldn't refuse a gift from a god.
Mora joked around a lot, but she was quite strict when it came to "gifts." Since it was a gift from her, it was closely linked to divinity.
[Hmm... No. You don't need anything right now. Just make sure to drink plenty of water.]
'...Is that it?'
[You really don't know anything. You have no idea how amazing a substance water is, do you?]
'I know it’s the source of life.'
[Exactly. And it’s the substance closest to pure energy.]
For a moment, I thought she meant mana, but her next words left me feeling skeptical.
[It’s the energy that gave birth to my mother, and it will be of great help to you. I can guarantee that.]
'Ah... yes. I... suppose?'
[I’m not joking! It’s true! Just trust me this once!]
Now I trust her even less.