The Bath Duck's True Size
A bath duck is a bit big, but if it's cute, it's okay.
It might seem out of place, but my creation ability was nearly omnipotent as long as it was backed by CP.
I don't know how this thing works? Okay. I'll take some CP instead.
You don't know the internal structure that's not visible from the outside? Okay. I'll take more CP.
You don't know what it looks like even if you know the name? Okay. I'll take a lot of CP.
It was a bit exaggerated, but... well, something like that.
The more I didn't know, the more CP was consumed, but in fact, there was no limit to what I could create.
And my intuition in my chest was saying the same thing.
I didn't know the principle, the structure, or the exact form, but creating an object to hold a virtual mind was never impossible.
"Creation!"
I put away the chair and stood up, shouting toward the center of the room.
But in my head, there was no clear image like when I used the creation ability before.
I didn't know exactly what a bath duck that could protect a disappearing virtual mind looked like.
But I just believed.
The intuition that always gave me the right answer and the creation ability that had never disappointed me!
Perhaps it responded to my will.
With a sensation of some energy inside my body slowly being consumed, something small began to appear from the direction I was looking.
One thousand, two thousand, three thousand... As CP was consumed more, the shape gradually became clearer.
At the moment when I had a bright expression, hugging a kind of hope.
"Ah!"
With a flash like lightning striking, the consumption of CP suddenly increased sharply.
"What the... suddenly..."
I hurriedly turned my head to the monitor at the sudden thought.
And there, I could see that the pure white Noise that was there a moment ago had completely disappeared.
'This can't be...'
Two possibilities bloomed in my head: good and bad thoughts.
First, the good thought was that my creation ability would create an object to hold the virtual mind that had gone astray as expected.
Second, the bad thought was...
'C, the CP consumption is ridiculous...! It needs this much? !'
It was that when the virtual mind began to mix with the object, the CP consumption could increase geometrically.
CP consumed in thousands suddenly in tens of thousands, my spare CP of only 130,000 was forced to plummet to the bottom in an instant.
This was a big problem. Of course, it wasn't just because CP was consumed too much. CP could be earned somehow again.
'If this continues... I might get a completely different result!'
The problem was this. I couldn't fill the part where CP was lacking, and I might get a failed product.
If it was just the appearance distorted, that was okay. But if the function side broke?
That was... too unpleasant. It's too stupid to reach out first saying I'll help and then fail. Embarrassing.
"Kuuk... Method, method..."
There wasn't much time left. The remaining CP I had now was only about 3,000.
If this continued, it would disappear in tens of seconds.
I had to find a solution before this short time ran out.
So, my eyes and brain quickly turned to find a way desperately.
Then I recalled one thought.
'CP is called points arbitrarily, but it's like a kind of energy. Then, can't I replace that energy with another method?'
Among the things derived from Einstein's special theory of relativity, there was the principle of mass-energy equivalence.
E=mc^2. Energy is the value obtained by adding the square of the speed of light to mass.
In other words, energy and mass are essentially the same, only their form is different.
This was a concept that was naturally and commonsensically accepted in physical phenomena.
Then, the concept would unfold equally here too!
'What? There's something nearby that can replace energy.'
I was looking at the unstable result that was shaking, and I quietly closed my eyes.
The important thing right now was not the unstable vortex happening in front.
What I had to concentrate on was myself, closer than anything else.
I asked my intuition that was trembling somewhere.
Would it be okay to use part of myself as material for creation?
Fortunately, the answer that came back from intuition was...
Possible.
"Then, use it!!"
I extended my palm toward the light that was gradually strengthening in front of me and shouted that.
And luckily, in the situation where the remaining CP was completely depleted... a mysterious power was newly born inside me.
Seeing my heart pounding like I had overeaten caffeine, it seemed like it wasn't a very good choice, but.
What was the point. It wouldn't die, right?
"Uguuk... kueu..."
A dazzling light that was so bright it was hard to open my eyes filled the inside of the room.
I thought, if I don't turn my gaze away, I'll go blind, right?
So, I couldn't tell what was happening inside that light.
At least one thing was certain....
What was being made now was probably not a small bath duck that would settle a virtual mind.
'Haha... as long as it's not an oddly shaped monster.'
Cough, cough.
Without my will, a dry cough came out between my lips.
A cold? Then, my body felt a bit chilly and my head was dizzy, it was exactly that feeling.
It was really the first time in a long time. It was the fatigue I felt for the first time since becoming Nia's body, so it couldn't be helped, but.
'Ah... is it done?'
After a few tens of seconds.
The sensation of energy being consumed steadily from before stopped, and at the same time, the intensity of the light flashing in front of my eyes weakened.
Then, what appeared was the completely ruined scene of the room and....
The figure of something lying in the center of the room.
"Eh, eurrara... for a bath duck, it's a bit... big..."
As I muttered that, an extreme fatigue like I hadn't slept properly for days pressed on my whole body.
And with the dizzy sensation felt from the head at that moment, I felt the senses of the whole world fading.
Thud. I collapsed to the side powerlessly, staring at the scene in front of me with a blank expression and muttered small in my heart.
Ah... I succeeded.
I succeeded in a risky gamble I made without any confidence.
Perhaps because that sense of relief blew away the tension far away.
The mental string I was barely holding onto was let go, and my consciousness rolled down into a deep, dark cliff.
*
It seemed I hadn't been conscious, but....
I had been reincarnated into Nia's body and for the past month, I had missed others terribly.
It was natural in a way.
I couldn't go out, and on the internet, I couldn't do anything properly, and there was no game either.
Collapsed daily life, human relationships only accessible through LAN cable, blurred self-identity.
If I had a somewhat sensitive personality, I might have fallen into depression with strong stress.
But since my personality was rather lazy and lenient, it was fortunate.
'So, when I met a being similar to me, I was incredibly happy. I thought I would do anything to keep it by my side.'
Like not knowing how big the storm is when you're in the eye of the storm, you can't see the situation objectively while things are progressing.
Therefore, I happily accepted the request for help from the virtual mind whose name I didn't know.
I was willing to stake my life as a chip in a gamble that didn't change much even if it succeeded.
Moreover, I hadn't noticed in the middle that this was the case, really.
'Still, I'm glad I'm safe. It was close to a big disaster.'
I looked at the somewhat tired face of a beautiful girl in the mirror and exhaled a sense of relief in my heart.
Anyway, if the result was good, I could wrap the process however I wanted.
It's often said that history is written by the victors, right? Because the losers don't get a chance to rewrite the content.
I was on the winning side. So, no matter how much I beautified the process, there was no one to say anything.
"Huu, then. Shall I go out a bit."
The place where I was muttering to myself now was the bathroom of the room.
It wasn't particularly spacious, but surprisingly, it was a bathroom with a bathtub.
If someone asked why I was doing this in such a cramped place, I would probably answer like this.
'Now this room is no longer a space just for me. I have no choice.'
What did that mean? Well... it meant this.
"...Ah."
"Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"Nueh... yeah."
It was strange to talk with my mouth.
The girl sitting neatly on the bed answered my words in an awkward, stumbling manner.
She had sparkling silver hair and golden eyes like me, and her body was petite enough that if we stood side by side, her head would barely reach my shoulders.
Except for the different eye color and short hair style, it was a beautiful girl who looked like a few years younger version of me. Or rather, a young lady.
But since I knew who was inside her, I could approach her without awkwardness.
"How's the body? Do you like it?"
"The body... it's strange..."
"Ahahaha... Originally, it was supposed to be a slightly different appearance. It seems my own element got mixed in somehow."
Originally, I was going to give her a body the size of a palm bath duck.
But because I used part of myself as material, it became this appearance.
Well... since it would be easier to move than a bath duck, from the other person's perspective, maybe this one was more to their liking.
Anyway, since I went through so much trouble to give her a body, it was time to receive the compensation.
I approached the girl and tried to say the main point... but suddenly I recalled that she had no name.
"Name... ah, right. You said there was none."
"...Yeah. None."
"Since it's hard to call like this, can I give you one?"
Since it was a connection that would continue, I couldn't call her like 'hey~' or something.
So, I decided to give her a name here. After all, for convenience.
"...!"
But was that a very happy thing for her?
The girl's expression brightened, and she looked at me with a bright expression as if stars were popping in her eyes.
Ugh, looking at me with those eyes was a burden, not a joke...
Especially since my naming sense was completely empty, I didn't have the ability to come up with a name that the other person would be happy with.
"Ah, um... like a little bunny...?"
"..."
"Ah, joke! It's a joke! Ah, u... like a gold nugget?"
"......"
Sorry. I really feel sorry.
I had no choice but to sweat profusely while looking at the girl starting to droop like a disappointed puppy.
A little bunny from the hair color didn't work, and a gold nugget from the golden eyes was out of the question.
Then... what name should I give her...!
While I was desperately thinking and pulling out words, the moment I first met her flashed in my mind.
"...How about Noise?"
"...Noise?"
"Because you appeared as pure white Noise and surprised me at first. Just thinking of it..."
At first, I almost fainted. I thought it was a horror game setup.
Because that impression was quite strongly imprinted, I naturally had to pass that word carefully...
The girl, who seemed to be chewing on the word Noise carefully, looked up at me quietly and said.
"...Noise, it's okay."
"It's, okay?"
"The first meeting... it comes to mind."
She said that while looking up at me in a gentle voice, and then slowly lowered her gaze.
Her face, which seemed to be saying there was nothing more pleasing, was impressive.
"Um, then... Noise... Miss?"
"Noise."
"...Don't add Miss, just Noise?"
"Yeah."
It seemed Noise liked my casual speech more, and she looked at me with a bashful smile.
I was staring blankly at that appearance and had no choice but to be shocked in my heart.
...What is this cute creature.
What did I create...!
"From now on, please take care of me. Noise."
"Please take care... Nia."
To reorganize the relationship again, I greeted her, and Noise answered in a somewhat calm voice.
Perhaps because the atmosphere felt a bit awkward. I scratched my cheek with an awkward expression.
...I guess I did well enduring that hardship.