Blocked Circuits and the Subspecies Strategy Contest
Elise's first move in magic class was to check my constitution.
It was some kind of aptitude test for magic affinity, and she said she'd tailor the training based on the results.
From her rough explanation, everyone has mana circuits that make certain magic systems hard to master, while others come naturally and let you build proficiency easily...
I couldn't help getting a bit excited, wondering 'What'll my affinity be?' so I sat still waiting for the results.
Thump thump—
What would it be?
I even hummed the Sunflower song, but honestly, I didn't care if it wasn't that type.
It's not like I was planning to make a living off magic, right?
More like a hobby? Studying for a certification? That kind of vibe for learning magic.
But after Elise poked around my body for about five minutes, she said,
"...You're probably not cut out to be a mage."
"...Huh?"
What the hell...
I'd been super hyped, and now she says I can't be a mage?
For a second, I wondered if she'd changed her mind and didn't want to teach me anymore.
You know, like how people act different going into the bathroom versus coming out?
But Elise's face didn't look like that.
It was more like the expression when something totally unexpected crops up.
So I asked why.
"What do you mean...?"
"Hmm... How do I put this..."
She kept taking my pulse from my wrist, frowning as she said,
"I can't feel any mana circuits at all? Is that even possible? Hmm... Hold on...."
Elise closed her eyes, focusing harder.
"No... That's weird? I can tell my mana is flowing in, so there are pathways...? No way...."
Her delicate fingers trailed up my wrist, along my arm to my shoulder, then across my chest, stopping at my heart.
"Hm, feels like something's blocked inside. Take off your shirt."
"......"
"Hey, I said take it off?"
I hesitated when she glared at me with those fierce eyes.
Just a tiny bit.
Like three or four seconds.
It's one thing to strip in front of a doctor or some expert, but totally different in front of the girl next door you've barely hung out with.
That brief pause was just like the embarrassment of opening the door for a delivery while shirtless at home, only to lock eyes with your neighbor heading home from work.
But this was basically medical stuff, so no need to be shy.
I shook off the thought and started to undress.
Couldn't even wait that long, huh?
Elise grabbed my shirt and yanked it up herself.
"Ugh, you're so annoying!! Hurry up and strip!! You think I've got all day?!?!"
"Hey, let go!! It'll stretch!!! I was just about to!! Aaaah!!!"
I got forcibly stripped, and her hand pressed right on my solar plexus.
"Jeez, not like there's anything to see..."
But for someone saying that, Elise's face was suspiciously red.
Her life hadn't given her much contact with guys.
Before the Shelter, she was the untouchable genius girl at the academy. After, she'd spent almost all her time in dungeons.
Truth was, she'd probably never even held a guy's hand—a real-deal, untouched virgin.
"...But you're pretty good at stripping a guy, huh?"
"Y-you... Wanna die...? This was my first time stripping a guy's clothes!!"
Her slightly flushed face turned beet red in an instant.
Felt like she might actually punch me if I pushed it.
I quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, why'd you make me take my shirt off...?"
Elise sighed and explained.
"Sigh, seriously... Listen up. It's just my guess, but your body has zero mana flowing through it. No traces of mana at all... I think the problem's in your heart?"
She tapped my chest with the back of her hand.
"Gonna send mana straight into your heart to check it out."
"Can't you do it over clothes...?"
"I could, but might as well do it properly while we're at it. Explanation's over—starting the check now. You'll feel something this time."
Elise placed her hand on my chest and closed her eyes.
"What kind of feeli—GUH!!"
THUD—
Suddenly, it felt like a hammer smashed into my heart. And because of the shock, my body wouldn't move right.
"What the hell are you—!!"
I barely managed to complain through gritted teeth, but Elise showed no signs of stopping after one hit.
"Hold still a sec. Keep squirming and you'll end up crippled?"
"You're insane... You didn't say that!! Stop!! I don't wanna—GACK!!"
THUD—
"I said STOPPPP!!"
Elise watched me thrash in pain with a creepy, almost sadistic grin.
"Hah... hah... Almost done, so stay still!!"
"You crazy bitch!! At least hide that look on your face!!! KAAAAAH!!"
THUD—
About three minutes later.
I was sprawled on the floor like a corpse, and Kkomangi came over, licking my face worriedly.
Exhausted, I couldn't move a muscle.
Looking down at me, Elise nodded like she'd figured it out.
"Hmmm... Yeah, that explains it. Must be 'cause you're a Dimensional Transferee? Pretty unique. You do have mana in your heart, but all the pathways are completely blocked. What, did you live in a world with no mana? First time I've seen it this clogged..."
"......"
No energy to reply.
"But don't worry! If I stimulate it like today, every day, cracks will form in the blocks, and mana will start flowing through soon enough."
This... every day?
"F-fuck... M-mage... N-no... Wanna..."
"Whether you like it or not, Adelheit keeps her promises! I'll make sure you can use magic. So, evening tickets as usual~ Half the inner cores like we said?"
Looking oddly pleased, Elise split an inner core in two, left half on the desk, and left.
*
Day 2 since updating subspecies and dungeons.
"...Not looking good."
Demand for sugar far outstripped supply, driving people nuts.
Until now, there'd been no way to get sugar at all. Now that inner cores opened a route, everyone had lost their minds.
Solution was simple: crank up subspecies spawn rates like they wanted. I had spare points left.
One worry, though—I couldn't adjust rates per dungeon.
When I made mid or mid-upper layer dungeons later, what if outliers like harpy subspecies spawned too much?
More subspecies variables meant higher overall dungeon difficulty.
My dungeons' big advantage was single-monster types with minimal variables, making them way easier than Shelter dungeons.
This wasn't a game—death was permanent. Needed to be careful.
I pondered ways to raise spawn rates and explorers' subspecies countermeasures.
"Hmmm...."
But no matter how I racked my brain, only one idea came up.
"Hm... Guess that's the play."
I messaged Sticky Thing Lover instead of busy sis Joodak.