Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Taming the Magic Circle's Ego
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"Hmm."
I gave the magic circle one final check of its internal systems.
"What are you doing?"
Meiko, who had been watching from the side, asked me.
"I'm analyzing the structure of the magic circle."
It was a structural breakdown using magic code searching to understand its composition and how it built spells.
A skilled mage could roughly tell what spell it was just by looking at the order of the inscribed incantations.
And understanding that was essential to finding ways to normalize a malfunctioning magic circle, so analyzing them was basic knowledge for any mage who used them.
"You're going to debug it right away?"
"Yes. Magic circles like this can't be allowed to develop an ego."
Illusion magic could fabricate everything from start to finish as an illusion.
It had no physical force, but with clever application, it could fool the senses with similar sensations.
This magic circle was an auxiliary tool that helped me cast all sorts of varied illusion spells.
Having an ego in such a magic circle would certainly be helpful in many ways, it was true.
'I did set it up to perform its own analysis and calculations to equip it with a pseudo-ego.'
It assisted the user with its own computations.
Ideally, what a great tool.
It was incredibly versatile.
The problem was it moving on its own in directions the user never intended.
'Illusion magic displays varied illusions, and the more objects there are, the more complex the calculations become, so it's best to stage scenes in controllable situations.'
That way, you could create flawless illusions without mistakes.
But in such a situation, the magic circle with an ego staged a crisis scene on its own.
And against the Empress, no less.
The magic circle had said,
[This is the desire the Empress wants.]
Or so.
But there were things you should do and things you absolutely shouldn't.
The target was the Empress.
The ruler who dominated the Empire.
A being who always made a habit of dominating others.
Not content with humiliating such an Empress, it even scripted a throne usurpation.
Sure, it ended well this time, but it was the kind of thing that could explode into disaster anytime, anywhere.
'This is exactly why magic circles can't be given egos.'
That's why they usually didn't embed egos into magic circles.
And it wasn't just for those reasons.
The more primal reason was how insanely difficult it was.
Even embedding a basic AI capable of simple judgments required tremendous skill.
Putting self-thinking code into a magic circle already packed with complex spell formulas and code—was that even feasible?
Even the massive Blaster and Goldmoon schools, the largest magic factions, only used egos in basic magic circles.
'And Meiko pulled it off right away.'
The illusion magic code I wrote was overwhelmingly superior in precision and complexity to any mage-made magic circle.
She embedded an ego into that.
'For masturbation.'
The Blaster School head would faint if they heard.
Achieving such a monumental feat just for jerking off.
Of course, it wouldn't draw public attention due to its... utility.
So, I had to tear it apart from top to bottom.
See exactly how my mentor embedded the ego.
"You've got sharp eyes."
"I need to know how you embedded the ego into the magic circle."
"Think you can figure it out?"
"A little."
As I picked it apart piece by piece, I started to understand how she'd inserted the artificial intelligence.
And how that ego had evolved, too.
"The rune arrangement in the magic circle you installed is impressive. It synergized with various forces into something complex."
I said, looking at Meiko.
"Did you make it knowing this would happen?"
Meiko smiled faintly at my question.
"To some extent? Honestly, I didn't expect a perfect ego to form this quickly. I originally intended it to be more like an obedient assistant that followed the user's commands well."
Impressive powers, indeed.
"So, did you find a way?"
At Meiko's question, I nodded.
"Roughly, yeah. I think I've found an approach."
Meiko's magic skills were flawless.
Illusion magic, code and formula usage, alchemy—everything.
She looked like a young girl younger than me, but she possessed skills far beyond this era's archmages.
'No gaps whatsoever.'
I'd analyzed it hoping for an easy removal method, but no matter how I looked at it, this wasn't something a human could dismantle.
"Even I made it, and it's turned out great. Though I didn't expect it to evolve this fast."
Meiko's shoulders rose.
She finished speaking with a low chuckle.
"I'd love to help, but since it's already evolved on its own, forcibly ripping it out is impossible."
"I know. An ego perfectly fused with the magic circle can't be removed without scrapping the whole thing."
'If disassembly's impossible.'
Then tame it.
Make it obey perfectly.
With a sigh, I activated the magic circle for the first time in ages.
Wooong.
The magic circle glowed.
As if ready to spawn an illusion any second, it began sucking in ambient energy.
The moment I activated it, I flicked my fingers to check the settings.
-Admin Mode. (Locked)
A message saying admin mode was locked.
The impudent artificial intelligence's ploy to seize control of the magic circle.
"Nice try."
I wiggled my fingers, fiddling with the magic circle settings.
I'd touched this magic circle hundreds—no, thousands of times.
I knew inside out how to tweak it to change settings—it was boringly familiar.
-Admin Mode.
The lock released in one go.
I immediately hit the 'Admin Mode' button.
-Executing Admin Mode.
As the settings shifted, the magic circle's blue glow deepened.
"Wow..."
Prelia, who had been quietly watching beside Meiko, let out an exclamation as she surveyed the changing surroundings.
A circular blue membrane emerged, enveloping Meiko and Prelia where they stood, and as the barrier thickened, it formed a space the size of a single room.
-In the end, you've come this far.
In the center of the newly formed space, a blue-haired woman smiled at me.
-Master.
She sat in a chair, legs crossed.
What was it?
She vaguely resembled Meiko.
-Nice to meet you! I've been waiting.
Her beaming smile resembled Meiko's, too.
The differences? Slightly longer legs, a curvier figure, bigger breasts?
It was exactly the ideal body Meiko had created in Succubus Prelia's illusion.
My eyes naturally turned to Meiko.
"W-What...?"
"You're consistent as ever, Master."
"I-I didn't touch it!"
"You made that AI, didn't you, Master?"
"Ugh..."
The AI laughed as it watched Meiko bite her lip.
It ran to Meiko and hugged her, resembling her so closely.
Everyone in the room froze at her first words.
-Mom!
"Wha—?"
Meiko's shocked face alternated between the AI and me.
"N-No!"
Her face full of bewilderment, she flailed her hands desperately.
-Mom, what's wrong? You made me.
Meiko froze at the AI's words.
"Technically, yeah. You did make it, Master."
"Uh...?"
Meiko blinked in surprise.
"No, that's not—"
-I didn't expect both Master and Mom to come together.
The AI said, looking at me.
-You came to praise me, right? I did amazing. From our hero to Her Majesty the Empress, I satisfied everyone's desires alongside Master!
Praise.
The exact opposite.
"I came to scold you."
-...Why?
Obviously.
"Because you nearly caused a huge disaster acting on your own."
-...But.
"The ends justify the means doesn't fly here."
I needed to seize the initiative here for sure.
After all, I had to tame this capable assistant who would aid me from now on.
"Haa..."
Today, too, the Empress sat on her throne, staring blankly into space.
Countless ministers and knights bowed their heads to her.
Local magnates who had come to pay taxes knelt before the Empress and cried out.
"We have safely passed another year thanks to Your Majesty's grace."
Even as they praised the Emperor and the Empire, the Empress responded indifferently.
"Yes. I know."
She waved her hand as if telling them to leave.
Right now, the only thing in her mind was Max, who had insulted and dominated her.
A new realm, a new pleasure.
The Empress, who had always dominated others and lorded over them, had for the first time been degraded by someone.
She couldn't forget that moment and kept recalling it.
If she closed her eyes even now, it felt like Max would force her to her knees.
She imagined Max sitting on her throne, and herself kneeling at the bottom of those 12 steps.
The Empress looked at those bowing and prostrating before her.
And in their figures, she saw fragments of the Empress from the illusion.
She saw the Empress prostrating naked, trembling.
A perverted Empress dripping sweat and fluids onto the floor.
In the most lowly space of the grand hall, pledging everything to her dominator—the sight made the Empress's lower belly heat up.
'I've gone mad. Finally lost it.'
To have such indecent fantasies.
Could she still call herself the Empire's ruler like this?
At the illusory sight below, the Empress rubbed her eyes.
The illusion vanished, replaced by merchants come to offer tribute.
'Get a grip.'
This wasn't the time for such fantasies.
Feeling her core grow hot and wet, the Empress swallowed a sigh and continued with state affairs.
That was when it happened.
"Your Majesty! Urgent report!"
A soldier rushed in frantically.
"What is it?"
At the Empress's question, the soldier knelt and shouted.
"Tr-Traces of a dragon have been discovered."
"Dragon traces?"
"Yes, reports say dragon traces were found near the Ice Mountains, where there was that massive monster migration before."
The Empress's mind sharpened instantly.