Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Noise Phenomenon
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“Phew, this is...”
I reviewed Yuris's final footage from yesterday once more.
The tiny sparks that had flickered across the video at the moment she reached her last climax.
It felt just like sparkling fragments of light raining down from the sky.
From one angle, it even looked like a divine blessing, or perhaps a celebration of the moment.
Thanks to that, Yuris savored that instant of ecstasy far more intensely, but I knew better.
I knew it wasn't just some simple spark.
“Noise phenomenon.”
The faint spark reaction that illusion mages called a “noise phenomenon” occurred due to sudden changes in circumstances or extreme shifts in the user's emotions.
It was a temporary short-circuit in the part of the magic circle that calculated the user's emotional changes, caused by information overload. Usually, it was tied to the magic circle's durability.
The noise phenomenon wouldn't suddenly make the magic circle explode or scramble the user's brain.
Illusion magic itself had no physical force, after all.
But magic circles were far more sensitive and finicky than they seemed.
If a problem arose in even one section, it could ruin the entire circle, so any issue like this required immediate inspection.
‘If it were just a durability problem, that’d be ideal.’
In the end, this incident was like noise glitching across a movie screen.
The audience mistaking it for the director's brilliant directing was fortunate, but I couldn't keep relying on coincidences forever.
‘I can't keep benefiting from unintended phenomena.’
Reinforcements were needed.
So I replayed the footage the magic circle had shown, over and over.
Exactly what problem had caused the sparks to burst in the magic circle?
Or had I mishandled something in awakening Yuris's desires?
I scrutinized the magic circle's reactions through repeated viewings, but no matter how closely I looked, the circle itself showed no issues.
At the exact moment Yuris climaxed, there had just been a slight overload.
Precisely as expected—a minor overheating in the part processing her emotions.
“This isn't a bad reaction at this level, but...”
Bolstering the durability would solve the immediate problem.
It would require a bit more money, but with the extra income from Yuris's help, funds weren't an issue right now.
That said, one worry lingered: the magic circle's durability was far weaker against users' emotional fluctuations than anticipated.
I could reinforce it now, but what if a situation arose where I had to run the footage for longer?
Or if she experienced even more intense climaxes and pleasure, and something went wrong?
The illusion could cut out abruptly midway.
If the illusion cut off midway...
‘The user snapping back to reality would be like force-feeding them the red pill.’
It would undoubtedly cause all sorts of headaches.
“It didn't react this intensely before. What did I miss?”
Was it because I manipulated the sensory inputs to make sensations more vivid?
If so, Yuris hitting such overwhelming pleasure might be the culprit.
‘Should I tone down the pleasure levels?’
It would've been great to consult my master, Meiko, here.
She would've spotted the magic circle's issue in an instant.
Of course, I couldn't dare ask her for advice.
Not when she believed this circle merely projected visions of the user's desires.
-Illusions to play back footage of their desires?
-Yes, that way they vent their urges and avoid mischief. Plus, it'll make decent money.
-But would anyone want to watch such lewd footage?
To convince Meiko, I'd shown her fake footage of a woman in lingerie and a man in briefs striking provocative poses.
-S-Stop playing that! I've seen enough!
Even that had nearly made her face explode in embarrassment.
It was the natural reaction from a devout Goddess Church believer who knew little of sex.
If she learned it was footage of violating women, tormenting them, and stoking their desires even further...
‘She'd smash the magic circle on the spot.’
And that'd be the best-case scenario.
She might even excommunicate me.
Hell, she might try to erase all records of ever being my master.
She'd surely drag me to the Goddess Church for repentance.
-Live as a monk for ten years, and it'll purge that filth from your head. Come back then!
Sending me to the Goddess Church, where life was nothing but floor scrubbing, scripture reading, and prayer—dull and joyless?
No way in hell.
“I have to keep hidden that I developed this magic circle, no matter what.”
It absolutely could not be discovered.
That aside, couldn't I still seek a disciple's help?
I wrote a letter to Meiko.
It started with greetings—hoping she was well, that her research was progressing—then asked for advice on the heat issues in emotional calculation magic circles and the resulting durability problems.
-...I await your wise master's counsel. From your inadequate disciple, Max.
I finished the letter expressing utmost respect for my master to the end, sealed the envelope, and opened the iron box where I kept stamps for mailing via the post office.
To send letters through the Imperial Post Office, stamps matching the distance were required.
Sending to the Witch's Forest in the southeast, where my master resided, needed about one silver coin's worth.
‘Hope I have stamps left.’
But the box that should hold stamps was empty.
“Tch, knew it.”
With so few customers, the shop had no visitors five days a week.
In my dire finances and empty pockets, even side gigs barely kept me afloat.
Pre-buying expensive stamps was a luxury.
Poor illusion mages lead sad lives.
“...COD it is.”
My master had sent letters COD before, so she'd understand.
“Ahem, sorry, Master.”
Isn't embracing a disciple's shortcomings what a master's heart is for?
I slipped the letter into the mailbox out front, then checked today's Imperial Newspaper slotted there.
-Silent Saintess dispatches to southern city of Ivrintom to bestow blessings.
-Escorted by the Empire's 1st Knight Order, led by Goddess of Victory Yuris.
-Glory of victory to the Saintess.
“Silent Saintess, huh.”
I knew her as the saintess who subjugated the Demon King alongside the Hero.
She'd gained immense power in exchange for a vow of silence, right?
They said she wielded divinity stronger than any saintess before her.
Rumor had it only a tiny few had heard her voice.
That shrouded her in all sorts of gossip.
-They say her voice is so beautiful, just hearing it sends you to heaven.
-I heard a demon turned angel after hearing it.
-Apparently, the Hero heard her voice when she spoke to kill the Demon King?
-How divine must her hymns be?
Honestly, I couldn't care less what her voice sounded like.
I wasn't a Goddess Church devotee, and my interests were limited to this magic circle in my hands and our customers.
I wasn't entirely uninterested in the saintess.
‘There is one thing.’
Her tastes.
Not her taste in men, obviously.
Food? No.
The desires she harbored.
That intrigued me most.
What hidden cravings did this lofty saintess—blessed by gods, Demon King slayer—conceal alone?
A silent saintess who told no one wouldn't have ordinary desires.
Didn't she fantasize about devouring a boy come for confession?
Or maybe being ravished by demons.
‘Maybe joining the subjugation party was really because she wanted to submit to the Demon King.’
Or craving a forbidden romance with her Hero party comrade.
I wanted to draw out the deep, buried desires she hid.
If the saintess became a customer, even those repelled by stigma would flock here.
‘I could even pass it off to Master as a legitimate circle for the saintess.’
An idea that'd make others scream blasphemy, but I kept reading the paper.
“1st Knight Order... wonder if Yuris went too.”
Come to think of it, most top powerhouses in this world were women.
The Empire's Goddess of Victory and undefeated knight Yuris, the Silent Saintess, even the Demon King-slaying Hero.
‘The whole Hero party was women?’
My master was a woman too, and Helen—poised to be the next strongest—was female.
Plus, the empire's ruler was an empress.
“It's pretty staggering, really.”
Plenty of strong men existed too.
Droken, who first led me to magic; Veron Silbestar, 2nd Knight Order Captain; Mercenary King Petрокan; Blaster School headmaster—and many more.
But at the pinnacle, women dominated.
There was even a joke that women reached the top thanks to the Goddess's blessing.
Unproven, of course.
Only the Demon King-subjugating Hero party had truly received her blessing.
Hero parties were always all-women, fueling such quips.
“Hero party, huh...”
I suddenly wondered what desires those with power sublime enough to fell the Demon King might harbor.
“Wonder if they'll ever drop by.”
I muttered to myself.
“Ah, there you are.”
A familiar voice rang out.
“Lady Yuris? Didn't you go to Ivrintom with the saintess?”
“The vice-captain went in my stead.”
“Oh.”
I'd assumed she'd go since the 1st Knight Order was deploying.
“But what brings you here? Weren't you fully satisfied yesterday?”
“Well, about that...”
Yuris fidgeted with her fingers, glanced around, then abruptly drew close.
The sweet scent of cosmetics stung my nose.
“Uh, c-can I experience another video today?”
“You mean the illusion footage?”
Yuris nodded faintly.
What to do.
“Afraid it's tough today—needs maintenance.”
“O-oh, r-really...?”
Her face brimmed with disappointment.
Her flushed cheeks dripped with lingering reluctance.
Had yesterday been that good?
Yuris hesitated, unable to leave right away.
“You came all this way—wouldn't want to leave empty-handed. Care to come inside?”
“But you said experiences aren't possible...”
New footage was impossible.
Inspection was needed.
However.
“If you'd like, you can rewatch previous footage.”
“P-previous footage?”
“Yes. You can relive the moment you were panting, Lady Yuris. From whatever point you desire.”
“Didn't you promise to keep secrets?”
“Correct. We do our utmost to prevent customer info from leaking. But we retain some past data to craft even better experiences next time.”
Yuris bit her lower lip at my words.
“Absolutely no leaks. You're the only one who can handle this illusion magic circle.”
“Hmph, intriguing.”
“Shall we?”
She nodded.