Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Episode 75
EP19 - Glass Butterfly (3)
"Shall we take a 20-minute break and continue?"”
“Sure.”
However.
Perhaps it's because I've accepted such a completely new [Illusion Magic].
A foreign sensation brushes past my mind.
“…….”
In the end, the ‘butterflies’ I created were fabricated.
They moved somewhere, carrying my thoughts and proficiency.
“…Gray.”
“Yes?”
“About earlier. Where did I tell the butterflies that disappeared to go? I don't remember well.”
“……?”
Gray blinked and looked into the distance. Even amidst the chaotic teaching and learning. She remembers more precisely than I do.
“…Huh? That’s right? We didn’t give any instructions.”
“What?”
“They were butterflies that disappeared without any instructions. We were just purely performing Illusion Magic… What is this, really?”
In the end, Illusion Magic is about imitating reality.
It requires the will to imitate.
Within the hazy sensation.
Regarding where the fabricated butterflies disappeared to.
A clue seems to be given in my mind.
‘Form, Phenomenon, Space, Perception… Beyond that, what can I fabricate.’
Then, I realized why my proficiency had stopped at a certain point.
‘…Because I had already achieved maximum proficiency.’
For nearly a week after reaching 89.99%.
I had been doing what I had already done, over and over.
It was a kind of inertia.
‘That’s why I couldn’t reach 90%.’
Having already achieved proficiency close to perfection, what meaning would there be in doing more?
‘A new realm is not automatically granted upon reaching 90%. I had to find it myself from the start.’
Then, how do I find it?
The answer lay in the butterflies.
‘…Where they disappeared.’
I recalled the events that had just happened, sequentially.
I created many butterflies, and lost some of them.
Where did the butterflies go?
When creating numerous butterflies, there were often some that were not fully controlled. They slipped out of my hands and disappeared outside the Cain Hall.
Even though they carried my Mana, at some point their Mana was cut off. Their forms also vanished without a trace.
At the time, I thought it was strange. It was a sensation I felt for the first time while creating countless [Illusion Magic]. It felt like the butterflies were being stubborn, resisting my commands.
I just dismissed it as my lack of skill in handling unfamiliar Illusion Magic.
‘No.’
For a moment, it felt like lightning struck my mind.
The Level 9 Superpower 『World Fabrication』, which had reached ultimate proficiency, flew towards new possibilities in the form of butterflies.
Where did the butterflies go?
An unbelievable conclusion seeped into my mind.
‘Somewhere other than space.’
And if that is 『World Fabrication』.
There are two axes that define the world.
Somewhere other than space, that is—
‘…Time, or dimension.’
That is where the butterflies went.
In order to fabricate that place.
The moment my thoughts reached that point.
Astonishing status windows popped up one after another.
< 『World Fabrication』 Proficiency: 90% (▲0.01%) >
< ⧉ Congratulations! You have reached a certain realm of Level 9 [Illusion Magic] Superpower. Rumors of your astonishing proficiency in fabricating the world have spread widely, and some of the stars high in the sky have heard your story! >
< ⧉ A certain star (…), whose origin is utterly unknowable, delivers fabricated formulas to you! >
< Three new formulas are added, following [Form], [Phenomenon], [Space], and [Perception]. Additionally, the ability to fuse existing formulas and fabricate others’ formulas is added. >
< Added Formulas: [Unknown Formula], [Time], [Memory] >
Ah!
My grip tightened.
‘Finally.’
── .
At the same time, the dawn light shone through the window.
From the night sky.
Into Cain Hall.
“Huh? Huh? What is this feeling?”
Gray, who was resting blankly beside me, exclaimed in surprise.
It was because a [Stigmata] was descending.
Ordinary students wouldn’t even feel its presence, but Gray, with her unusual senses, detected it.
“It’s a [Stigmata].”
“Stigmata? Why a Stigmata all of a sudden…?”
“Someone must have had something good happen to them.”
“Oh….”
I pretended not to know. I was in the middle of learning 『Glass Butterfly』. If Gray realized I had gained something, she might feel a sense of deprivation.
“Whoever it is, I’m jealous.”
“I see.”
Gray also turned her head to look out the window with me.
“Lucky bastard…”
“…Why are you swearing?”
“Why? Anyone luckier than me can go screw themselves.”
“……."Meanwhile, the owner of this sinister, half-hidden face is 'Peeping Star'."
The most useless and perverted among the stars.
Nevertheless, one of the Gods of this world.
‘This is already the second [Stigmata].’
Last time it was 「Peacefulness☮」 on the tree.
This time, it’s "Peeping Star│ㅅㅇ)".
“By the way, Professor, the Kreutz bastards are watching this too, right?”
“Indeed, they are.”
When a [Stigmata] descends like this. Those interested can detect it even from the opposite side of the continent. It’s like a server announcement popping up in a mobile game when you get a legendary weapon.
“A [Stigmata] that only appears once every few months has appeared twice in two weeks. Their expressions must be priceless.”
Gray laughed.
“I see.”
I’m curious too.
What expressions are they making right now?
"I wish a kind star would show me a glimpse..."
I subtly tried to provoke 'Peeping Star', but it didn’t pay any attention.
It was a useless star, as expected.
‘Should I check 『World Fabrication』 first.’
Anyway, that’s beside the point.
I checked the newly acquired formulas.
< Added Formulas: [Unknown Formula], [Time], [Memory] >
Among the three, I’ll set aside the unknown Stigmata formula for now.
[Time]
[Memory]
These two are the formulas I obtained through my proficiency.
Something…
The names alone are unusual.
‘Memory Fabrication?’
Is it possible to manipulate people’s memories?
Checking the explanation window confirmed that ‘possibility’ was correct.
‘…This is a very dangerous Superpower.’
This formula can fabricate the memories of anyone, including humans, and anything with a ‘memory storage device’.
Any memory, any sensation within that memory.
‘There’s a condition.’
It can only be used once on a single person.
Just once in a lifetime.
Not twice.
Furthermore, even just viewing the memories to fabricate them is considered an activation of the Superpower.
‘Is the condition that the target must recall that memory? But if that’s the case…’
When I turn my head, I see Gray taking off her sneakers. If I were to fabricate her memory, she would live the rest of her life believing the fabricated memory was real. The psychological revulsion was immense.
‘I can’t do it.’
For now, I’ll keep it.
‘Next is [Time Fabrication].’
My expectations were higher for this one.
I tried it immediately.
『 World Fabrication: Time Fabrication 』
Then, two things appear to be input.
[ Seconds / Frames ]
What is this?
I input numbers according to the sensation in my mind.
『 World Fabrication: Time Fabrication [10 seconds / 60 frames] 』
And then, when I unleash the Superpower—
“…….”
I did it.
What happened?
“……?”
I just used the Superpower, but there was no change.
What is it?
“But, Professor.”
At that moment, Gray, who was touching her toes, called me.
“I’m listening.”
“What are you doing the day after tomorrow?”
The day after tomorrow? Why the day after tomorrow—
Immediately after, the entire world surrounding me, Gray, and the auditorium shattered.
“…….”
When I opened my eyes, I was in the auditorium.
I looked around for a few seconds, checked the depleted Mana, and then Gray began touching her toes.
“But, Professor.”
Ah, this voice.
“What are you doing the day after tomorrow?”
“Huh??”
Gray’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…How did you know?”
Ah, I understand completely.
From the moment I used [Time Fabrication], ‘fabricated time’ began to flow.
And when the preset time runs out, it returns to the starting point.
‘This is truly a monstrous formula.’
However, there were drawbacks.
‘It consumes an enormous amount of Mana.’
Just 10 seconds at 60 frames consumed 189 Mana. For just 10 seconds.
“Professor?”
“Ah, yes. I just thought you would ask that. It felt like it.”
“Creepy… So, what are you doing the day after tomorrow?”
“Let’s see. It’s the weekend, and I don’t have any other plans.”
“Hmm….”
“Gray. If it’s okay during the break, would you like to play a game with me?”
“A game?”
I decided to resolve my curiosity on the spot.
I took out 9 Hica coins from my wallet and handed them to Gray.
“This is to guess whether more heads or tails will come up when I toss this.”
“If I win?”
“I’ll give you all the coins.”
“Then if you win, Professor?”
“I’ll get a tap on the head.”
“That’s a huge loss for me.”
“Then you can hit me too.”
“Deal.”
That’s right.
The moment [Time Fabrication] appeared, the first thing I wondered was.
Is gambling possible??
If successful, it would be the start of my life of instant riches.
……In the end, it was a failure.
‘This is the problem with [Fabrication].’
When I dropped the frame rate to 1, it consumed almost no Mana. About 3 to 4.
Then, reality began to stutter, and the coin toss was inconsistent.
“Ah, I lost…”
Gray looked at me, so I gave her a gentle ‘tap’ and changed the game.
“Would you like to play rock-paper-scissors too?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Conversely, rock-paper-scissors had a 100% win rate.
I stopped after about 5 experiments.
Gray only played scissors.
‘Strange. What’s the principle?’
Perhaps this is also a matter of proficiency? Would gambling also yield the same results at 99.9% proficiency?
I don’t know yet, but…
‘In a neuroscience paper I read before, it said that when people play rock-paper-scissors, their brain decides what to play several seconds in advance.’
Regarding this formula, I don’t know well either, but.
To summarize roughly.
Things with a firm causality generally worked out.
Things that were highly speculative often did not.
‘…But does this make sense?’
My mind became complicated.
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.
Chaos theory.
Laplace’s demon.
…Theories that deny determinism, like those, rolled around in my head and stopped at a certain point.
This was a game.
‘I don’t know. The laws of the world itself must be different.’
So, can I make money with this?
Roulette doesn’t work, but.
‘Ah, poker might be possible.’
But then again, large gambling establishments use several monstrous devices that detect [Superpowers].
Moreover, 『World Fabrication』 is a [Taboo], so if I were caught, my head would be cut off.
So, in the end, it was indeed a failure.
‘It would have been fun if there were stocks.’
Like an ultra-short-term trading method… wouldn’t that have been possible?
I’ll have to think more about its uses.
Then, suddenly, I had this thought.
Can this be used like this too?
『 World Fabrication: Time Fabrication [10 seconds / 30 frames] 』
“Gray.”
“Yeah? Why do you keep calling me.”
“There’s something I want to say to you.”
“What?”
He blinked.
“Go—”
Without thinking, I was about to say something, but I thought it wasn’t appropriate between a Professor and a Student, even if it was virtual, so I changed my words.
“—to hell.”
“Huh?”
“Die.”
“Why…?”
“Just, die.”
“No.”
Gray reflexively raised his middle finger.
“You die, Professor…”
Immediately after, the world shattered.
‘It works.’
It works.
It can also be used to check the other person’s reaction.
‘This is fun.’
Putting aside its uses.
The formula itself was fascinating.
It felt like I had gotten a very fun toy.
‘But the Mana consumption is also high, and it’s not possible for long periods yet due to proficiency… Wait…?’
I can check the other person’s reaction?
Oh!
An exclamation mark appeared in my mind.
I urgently called the [crystal ball].
To Adele.
- Hello, Professor~
You’ve called at a perfect time.