Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Chapter 81
EP21 - Head Professor Kain (2)
This is a story from one hour ago.
The Empire is coming to see Kain.
...which was a rather tense event.
Because "World Fabrication" is a [Taboo].
If discovered, an execution order would be issued by the Empire, and [Constellation] level individuals would move to kill me. It would be game over within two hours.
The possibilities of being discovered in the worst-case scenario are the following three.
1.
Someone who wields [Illusion Magic] at a similar level to me.
2.
A cleric with very high Divine Power.
3.
A warrior who has reached the [Constellation] level.
These individuals would be able to discern the [Taboo].
As for the third category, the [Constellation] level warriors can discern the quality of Mana through sheer power, but they are such colossal figures that they wouldn't bother moving for something like this, so they are out of the question.
'Of course, Agion of "Bright Star of Light⁺₊⋆" praised it...'
Imagine a two-legged Tsar Bomba nuclear warhead showing up at Seoul National University. The government would be in an uproar, wouldn't they? So, the third category is out of the question.
There are a few other possibilities, such as national treasures of the Sombania Principality... but they are unrealistic, so let's set them aside.
If the Empire brings someone from category 1 or 2, I could be in quite a predicament.
'I need to prepare in advance.'
And so, while I was alone, I took out the [Cain Tree] I had made beforehand and began the final preparations.
'Ah, but first, I need to make a mask.'
As for the mask... while pondering, for some reason, I thought of an elephant, so I made an elephant plush toy mask and put it on.
It has wide, flapping ears.
It's a mask with a long, soft trunk.
It can move.
"Not bad."
But why an elephant?
I don't really know.
Anyway. Originally, I intended to play the role of Head Professor Kain myself. Transmitting and receiving Mana. By continuously inputting [Activity Variable].
However, if the Empire brings people from categories 1 or 2, they would feel an anomaly every time Mana is exchanged.
And it's impossible to resolve this situation with a single [Activity Variable].
How complex is the system of human interaction?
'It's fine.'
There is a way.
To actually create "Head Professor Kain."
A "Forged Human."
As I reached 90% proficiency, I didn't just gain [Time Forgery] and [Memory Forgery]. My understanding of the [Fusion] of existing formulas also expanded by a level.
'Mixing highly advanced [Phenomenon Forgery] and [Perception Forgery], and [Memory Forgery].'
At my current level, I'm comparable to a physicist who can challenge Einstein's theories.
It's a complex concept, so you can gloss over it, but
The process is roughly as follows.
⋮
─── Dante's thoughts, which you don't need to know ───
1.
To enable perception through the five senses, I create highly advanced sensory organs and a central processing unit using [Form Forgery].
It sees, hears, and feels like a human.
2.
Then, I create reasoning ability using [Phenomenon Forgery].
It thinks like a human.
3.
The 'interaction with the outside world' itself is inputted as a single [Activity Variable].
It speaks and acts like a human.
If I do this much, even if I were a genius, the phantasms would inevitably become choppy.
Like a lagging game.
A stuttering Head Professor Kain.
It's not a problem with my abilities; even a [Constellation] level individual would likely not fare much differently, but the [Phantasm] has become too heavy.
This small body of Kain is now filled with incredibly complex things.
It's fine.
4.
Through [Perception Forgery], I apply TTA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing) to the gaze and senses directed at Professor Kain.
It creates 'intermediate' steps in the jerky movements, making them natural.
To use stairs as an example.
A single step that is 1m high.
It's divided into 10 steps, each 1m high.
'The problem with this kind of [Perception Forgery] is the ghosting phenomenon.'
Kain's actions might leave afterimages.
Originally, I intended to create other formulas to compensate for this.
For example, a formula to blur the afterimages.
'What the... it doesn't work.'
But that formula turned out to be surprisingly heavy.
Kain is already too heavy as it is.
'If I make it heavier, it will stutter more, requiring more compensation, and to compensate for that, it will become even heavier... and stutter even more...'
A vicious cycle.
Is there truly no way?
'Hmm... Ah.'
As I pondered, I came up with a brilliant idea.
If the bed is too short.
Can't you just cut off your legs?
'It's fine if Kain is just a slow child from the start.'
If Kain is quick-witted, the stuttering becomes severe.
If Kain is slow-witted, the stuttering also decreases.
'It works.'
[Slow Mode] attachment complete.
Finally.
5.
If I attempt [Memory Forgery] on the perception, reasoning, and interaction formulas created earlier, and inject my memories of creating the final exam assignment into Kain?
The forged human, Head Professor Kain, is complete.
─── Dante's thoughts, which you don't need to know, end ───
⋮
At the end of it all, I completed Kain.
Unlike the "Grimy Rice" that tried to erase SpongeBob, this one is a forged human that has no problems because its [Activity Variable] is intensely under my control.
"Raise your head, Head Professor Kain."
I pressed the power button.
"..."
Head Professor Kain, who had been sitting blankly with his head bent.
Light seeped into his eyes.
Then, he slowly raised his head and looked at me.
With round, large eyes.
And so, we faced each other.
"..."
"..."
Only then did I realize one mistake.
There was a problem.
An unforeseen problem.
"..."
His eyes, staring blankly at me.
"......You."
It wasn't a technical issue.
He recognized me. He deduced that I was his master. He even reached out his hand, interacting with me. His movements were slow, but there was no stuttering. Yet, there was a problem.
Professor Kain suddenly wrapped both his arms around my neck.
"..."
An unexpected action. His small arms exerted pressure. I felt a slight warmth from his small head against my cheek.
He was hugging me.
I grabbed the back of this young boy's neck and pulled him off. His arms, now without purpose, slowly lowered.
"..."
This was already a problem.
Head Professor Kain, now detached, smiled brightly.
Very slowly. Vacantly.
Then, he whispered softly.
"Hello...."
This was the problem.
"..."
One, he was untainted, being a newly created life form.
Two, his slow movements perfectly matched this disposition.
Three, the reasons humans are selfish, exclusive, or aggressive stem from a desire for survival or reproduction, but this child had none of that.
Ezekiel was right. How could he be called a professor like this?
"......?"
When I didn't reply, he tilted his head.
I was in a difficult situation. I couldn't present him to the Empire's professors like this.
'There isn't much time, but...'
I have many pre-made [Activity Variables], so
I decided to educate him with them.
"Kain. That is your name."
"......"
He nodded.
Briskly, but slowly.
"From now on, you and I will begin our education."
"......"
"Remember this. When you interact with others, the most important thing is to 'only say what is necessary'."
"......"
"Answer."
"Yes..."
"What words?"
"Necessary words..."
"That's right. The same applies to actions. You must only perform necessary actions. Do you understand?"
"Yes..."
Good. After that, I diligently taught him through mock interviews in preparation for the situation when I met the Empire's professors.
"Did the Professor create the tree?"
"Yes..."
"How did you create it?"
"By working hard..."
"What is the secret to reaching such a great level at your young age?"
"Diligence and sincerity..."
Good. Acceptable.
"How old are you, by any chance?"
"One year old..."
"That's good. You need to act much older than that."
"Two years old...?"
"No, no. Much older than that."
"Um... ... ... A thousand years?"
"What? Ah. That's better, actually. You don't need to reveal all your information, and it's better to be mysterious."
"I'm a thousand years old...?"
"Yes."
"......"
He nodded with satisfaction.
Likely because the setting he first deduced on his own had been approved.
So, I decided to ask a slightly more difficult question.
"I would like to ask about the expansion part of the circuit. Why did you introduce the rarely used [Beta Scalability Formula]?"
"......"
Professor Kain looked at me with a blank expression, then pursed his lips.
"...Because everyone. To work. Together. I didn't think small illusions would be enough..."
"If the composer is truly you, could you reconstruct the circuit here one more time?"
"Yes..."
Even though he speaks so clumsily, he's good at constructing circuits because my memories of creating the final exam questions were fully transferred through [Memory Forgery].
"Wow. Truly amazing."
"......"
Clap, clap, clap!
I'm giving my all in this performance.
As I clapped, he relaxed his tense expression and smiled brightly again.
Now, the basic education is complete.
'The Empire's Head Professors wouldn't have come out of pure curiosity, would they?'
I suspect they were sent by someone very high-ranking, such as the Chairman of the Imperial Academy or the Head of the Illusion Magic Department.
"Head Professor Kain."
"Yes..."
"There are many people in the Empire who are curious about you, Professor. Could you say a word to them?"
"......"
Professor Kain blinked, scratched his cheek with his small hand, and fiddled with his fingers.
This is because the [Activity Variable] I inputted did not contain an answer for such situations.
He now had to create words for strangers through his own deduction.
After a long period of thought, he came up with an answer. An answer I hadn't anticipated.
"I love you..."
I sighed.
He speaks strange words, like a newly created human.
I told him to only say what is necessary, but what the hell is this love...
However, apart from that one sentence, the rest of the situation was natural, so I decided not to discourage him unnecessarily.
"Good. That's all for the education. When you meet the Empire's professors, only say what is necessary. Understood?"
He replied briskly.
"Yes...!"
.
.
.
.
.
───────
< Report to His Majesty, the Great Emperor HatenGraj >
Date: January 23rd, Imperial Calendar 502, 5:13 PM.
Author: Hashiroa Krumisienne, Head Professor of Illusion Magic (Primary) / Seoshi Ryu, Head Professor of Illusion Magic (Secondary)
Subject: Kain, Head Professor of Assassination Illusion Magic at Hiaka Academy
Full Report:
To His Majesty, the Emperor HatenGraj, the great, rightful, and legitimate ruler of the continent and the world, we humbly submit this report compiled at the humble Imperial Academy.
Today, Professors Hashiroa and Seoshi met with Head Professor Kain of Hiaka Academy, whose name has been whispered about in various circles.
The Hiaka side vehemently refused filming, so we only managed to take a few secret photos. We apologize that we cannot show you the actual person, as the Head Professor was wearing a mask.
Below, we enumerate the encounters in chronological order, and will write detailed thoughts and reasoning in the (▼ More) section. Please check the parts His Majesty is curious about.
1.
First, the initial meeting was bewildering. This is because Kain appeared to be a boy of only five or six years old. His height of only about 1 meter and the elephant plush toy mask made us doubt if we were being deceived, as he seemed too young to be called a 'Head Professor'. (▼ More)
2.
The child kept fiddling with the elephant's trunk, and we sighed. When asked his age, he said he was a thousand years old, and we debated whether to leave immediately due to his apparent playfulness. However... after meeting him, interviewing him, and jointly decorating the [Cain Tree] with illusion magic, our thoughts gradually began to change. (▼ More)
3.
Firstly, Head Professor Kain's level of illusion magic was shockingly high for his age. It made us believe his claim of being a thousand years old, and we even suspected he might be a case of reverse aging. We surmise he is overwhelmingly the top candidate at Hiaka, and would be among the top ten great illusionists on the continent. (▼ More)
4.
Furthermore, Professor Kain's illusion magic fundamentally followed the 'imitation of form,' which was also shocking, as it was unlike any illusion magic we had ever seen. It had a unique quality, much like the "Glass Butterfly" of the Habanero family... but Professor Seoshi consistently argued that it felt similar to 'Abraxas's' illusion magic... (▼ More)
5.
Moreover, it seemed certain that the 'Cain Tree' was created by Head Professor Kain. While the professor was hesitant and timid like a child when discussing other topics, he showed no flaws when it came to the creation process. And when we didn't understand, he even tested our abilities... (▼ More)
6.
Here, I was even more shocked. Despite us failing the test, Professor Kain explained his insights and understanding to us, and even revealed the workings of his secret circuits.
At this point, Professor Seoshi and I were stunned. If we were to learn similar information from high-ranking individuals like Gyulgyul, Luna, or Agion, it would cost millions of Hica, yet he taught us so generously without asking for any reward or recognition. (▼ More)
7.
We are ashamed before Your Majesty. However, from this point on, we were simply excited as pure scholars!
8.
For about 30 minutes from this point, we cautiously discussed our illusion magic research and progress, and Professor Kain kindly pondered all our difficulties and, astonishingly, proposed answers or solutions to several difficult problems. (▼ More)
9.
Meanwhile, as we sat at a small desk with the child, heads together, continuing to take notes, Professor Seoshi briefly wished to pause the interview, perhaps reminded of his son who passed away last year... Upon hearing the situation, Head Professor Kain suddenly hugged Professor Seoshi. And then he said he loved him.
10.
It was a gesture of comfort. Although it was a cold winter day, Head Professor Kain, without hesitation, removed his elephant plush toy mask and shared his warmth with Professor Seoshi's cheek. And at this moment, I was shocked once more. The face of Head Professor Kain, revealed in person, was truly, so... (▼ More) (▼ More) (▼ More)
11.
This concludes our reflections on the meeting.
12.
Finally, one point of suspicion is that Head Professor Kain might actually be a [Phantasm], and his main body was controlling the child from elsewhere... However, to our senses, he did not appear that way 'at all'.
13.
Following "Shadowless Star Seat○" and "Dark Star Constellation⚉", this is the third time in 50 years. Once again, heavenly fortune has poured down upon a child at Hiaka.
14.
If Hiaka and the Empire were to begin academic exchange in the future, the existence of Head Professor Kain would be an immense source of inspiration and material in itself. However, in my opinion, that is not enough. In the long term, I believe the Empire should make him one of its own. In my opinion, even for billions of gold, he should be brought to the Empire. (▼ More)
15.
Head Professor Kain is too good for Hiaka.
───────
EP21
Head Professor Kain
END