Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Post-Processing ~Violet Magic Tower Master Side~
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The session was over. Despite all the incidents and accidents, it had wrapped up nicely in the end, and everyone got to enjoy the ending credits with smiles on their faces. Everyone except the evil god, who got thoroughly beaten and thrown into the simulation prison, that is.
I'd thought it was actually dead after that pounding, but the evil god had just played possum and tried to sneakily slip into the next session. It's been apprehended now. No wonder its final stand felt so half-hearted.
Honestly, I'd expected the evil god to unleash more mental attacks.
You know, like transforming into Bennett's little sister, or showing illusions of Tara's parents, or playing a sound effect of Abraham shedding bloody tears and screaming, "Why didn't you save me?!"
There were dozens of great options like that, so running away in a panic, spouting some clichéd line, and dying just felt off.
The Magic Tower Master chimed in from the side with her hypothesis: "Maybe it went nuts from getting hit with too many TS beams...?" But I didn't let my guard down. I isolated it in the space where it met its "death" and sealed it away in a black box dimension.
And that thoroughness proved to be the right call. The damn thing still had its life line intact.
I considered just incinerating it on the spot, but then I thought maybe there was a way to make use of it. As long as I slapped a proper leash on it, that is.
AI has its limits. It's ultimately just a machine following pre-programmed patterns, so it can't handle unexpected situations cleanly. Even I always switched to manual control during critical moments, right?
Take that scene where I possessed Joseph, for example.
Bennett suddenly showed unexpected sharpness and hit me with "You're not Joseph," but if I'd left it to the AI, it would've just repeated something lame like "No, I am Joseph." It couldn't have ad-libbed "I'm a goddess" like I did.
Full automation with AI just isn't feasible. Short of it suddenly awakening self-awareness like in some fairy tale, it's impossible. And I can't think of any way to boost its performance right now.
That's why the evil god—now fused with something in my head into a spirit-like entity—started looking appealing. If it could play the villain role... the dramatic possibilities would expand massively. I got greedy.
So now, I'm dumping a daily dose of gratitude info-bombs on the evil god. Today's menu: "The dancing girl who's dead serious about breakdancing."
Rumble rumble.
"Just kill me already, you crazy wizard...!!"
Watching it twirl in a frilly dress, spinning windmills, warmed my heart. Seems like the evil god's enjoying it too. I'm glad.
This routine will continue until Evil God ID_013 submits a formal declaration of defeat and obedience.
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Let's start by tallying what I gained from this session.
My brainpower improved. After becoming aware of that something in my head, I realized I'd been using part of my brain to constantly suppress it.
Examining the mental barrier I'd built against "it," it was surprisingly meticulous for something I'd done unconsciously. It felt like there was clear intent behind it. My guess is that my past self set up countermeasures and then hid the memories from myself.
Probably similar to why the Magic Tower Master had been so adamant about not telling me. The more attention you give it, the more it thrashes around.
The fact that something was implanted in my head... it was disgusting and terrifying. If it swallowed me whole, I'd still be "alive," but it'd be as good as death. A time bomb in my skull...
But I'm trying not to let it shake me. Panicking in fear is exactly what it wants. The key is that I can handle it. Don't forget that.
Anyway.
About 7% of "it" broke off, so I freed up that much of the resources my mental barrier had been consuming. How much did it improve? ...Around 5%?
Emotionally, I feel... more sensitive, somehow. More like my original self, to be precise. I'm craving romance novels. I want romance. I need romance.
Internally, that's the haul. Next.
Externally, what did I get?
Bennett and Tara awakened their Mythos. Three students took my class, and two emerged with Mythos awakenings. That's a massive achievement that would shock the world and flip the academy upside down.
What does that mean? Demand for my sessions will skyrocket like a booming stock chart. Even the TRPG class with low sign-ups will get flooded. I'm a player mogul now...!
With Tara as a connection, I might secure cooperation from the goddess cult. Religions have always been treasure troves of material. They'll have plenty of data. Maybe I can even aim for a holy relic.
If I can get black magic info from Bennett, it'll be great reference for staging demonic arts or evil stuff. Keeps the historical accuracy too.
Session quality's going up. I'm already excited.
The mission from Second Prince Irid also made huge progress.
I'd just submitted a brag-report to our Second Prince. Caught the black mage, taught the students well—I've accomplished like 300% of the mission, right? Since I worked so hard, I tacked on a request for more budget at the end.
Of course, I don't plan on running sessions this brutal from now on. I think their Mythos awakenings were more due to their talents than my skill.
But outsiders don't know that!
Even if it's all hype, I'll milk it for all it's worth.
With so many gains, there's plenty of cleanup too. Bennett's situation, the black mage's evil plan, etc. But the top priority is something else.
"Magic Tower Master."
"......"
The matter of the small, cute mage sweating bullets and glancing nervously.
I looked straight into the Violet Magic Tower Master's eyes and declared more clearly than ever.
"No bringing session-external matters into sessions. Forbidden."
"...B-but it's not fully resolved yet."
"It's a matter of principle."
"...Principle?"
Her pupils shook uneasily. I elaborated.
"I'm not completely rejecting that method. It suppresses damage and keeps failures contained to illusions, so it's efficient... I'll use it."
"......"
"But only with proper consent. Like hiring people for pay, or a tight-knit group who genuinely want to help me. If we're trying it with consenting party members, fine—but I don't want to drag innocents into it."
In short, I want to separate playtime from work.
I sat in the chair and beckoned the Magic Tower Master.
She trotted over with her head slightly bowed and climbed onto my lap. I gently kneaded her shoulders. Her body trembled faintly.
I took a moment to choose my words.
"It was tough, wasn't it?"
"No, the tough part was with Tara and Niore..."
"That's them. I'm talking about you, Magic Tower Master."
If she'd been a total cold-blooded type with no hesitation shoving the trio into despair, that'd be one thing. But pushing through while grimacing with guilt meant she valued me that much.
She swallowed her conscience for my sake. Honestly, I was touched.
So now that things ended well, I wanted to clear the storm clouds from her face, make it shine like a clear blue sky.
"You were hurt by this too, Magic Tower Master. Felt guilty..."
"Ung..."
"You did great. Thanks for pushing for me. But from now on, talk to me first. Let's find paths where everyone can be happy. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"...Sorry."
Guilt.
The fastest, surest way to ease guilt is forgiveness. Second is punishment.
Going to Tara and Niore now with "It was all just illusion magic, the Magic Tower Master's fault—forgive her?" would get me stabbed. So we'll resolve that indirectly by making them happy.
For now, punishment. Give her the right kind to lighten her conscience.
I scooped the Magic Tower Master up in a princess carry. Her eyes went wide in surprise.
"...?!"
"If it's bothering you that much, time for punishment."
"P-Punishment...? What...?!"
"We're going to the bedroom."
Wham.
Her face turned beet red in an instant, hearts swirling around. Her uncontrolled illusion magic painted images in the air before fading—spankings, rope bondage, that sort of thing.
I figured she'd bolt, but she stayed meekly in my arms. Her desire for atonement must be huge.
But how could a disciple lay a hand on their sky-like master? No corporal punishment here. I had a more effective method.
Carrying her down the hall, I opened Pingbalrez's bedroom door.
"?"
"...??"
There was Pingbalrez, rolling around on the bed in full formal attire. She eyed me like What's this?, so I answered by tossing the Magic Tower Master her way.
Whoosh.
Poof.
Whirly-whirl.
"...?!!"
Pingbalrez wrapped around her like an octopus snaring a fish. A beauty tossed into her bed—instinct kicked in. Succubus indeed.
I declared solemnly.
"Do whatever you want."
"...?!!"
The Magic Tower Master's hair stood on end. Now she realized she'd been thrown into the lesbian den. Pingbalrez accepted my sudden combo with a sly, thieving grin.
"Crazy Wizard, you mean I can really go for it?"
"...?!!!"
Ignoring the Magic Tower Master too shocked to breathe, we conversed via gestures. Crazy Wizard, what the hell? Planning to assassinate me indirectly?
No. She'll behave. Just lightly teasing her, so stay within bounds but help yourself a bit.
Fine. But this doesn't forgive your boundary-crossing preemptive strike last time. Too late. Brace yourself.
What're you on about, Pingbalrez?
"Devour her, Pingbalrez. I permit it."
"By your command."
"...Hii, hiiik...!!"
I quietly left the bedroom and closed the door. That should be punishment enough.
I have no idea what Pingbalrez's meaningful parting words meant... but whatever. I've stuck to standard protocols so far.
Later I heard she just scared her a bit and gave a full-body muscle massage. Apparently, elbowing the soles of her feet had her screaming in ecstasy.
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After the session, during the next class training students in the tentacle labyrinth, Bennett breezed through and approached me.
I'd prepped a perception-alteration spell in case she swung first, but luckily, she just wanted to talk. She sheathed her longsword and put on a serious face.
"Wizard. I have important business."
"Ah, perfect. I have something to tell you too."
"Can we speak alone?"
"Come to my lab after class."
Meeting scheduled. I could guess what Bennett wanted to say. Good timing—I needed to give her the session clear reward. I'd prepared one, and the Magic Tower Master brought something too.
She'd cleverly set it up as "something the late Abraham prepared for the players." Moments like that hit just right.
"Hey, Bennett! Stop slacking—chop those giant tentacles!"
[If you want to see me caught by tentacles, just wait about 6 minutes!]
"...I'm going now!"
Bennett responded to her teammates' calls, drew her sword again, and charged off.
I found myself looking forward to the class ending.