Whirrrr—
“Simulation paused. Stabilizing player consciousness, entering refresh phase.”
“Mmm. All good. Gordius is in good shape too.”
The bright light emitted by the magic circle dimmed, transitioning to a softer glow. The hum of mana in operation faded into a quieter background noise, like a computer slipping into power-saving mode.
No anomalies in the data storage. The intelligence sharing system was also functioning smoothly. As for the research data... well, I could sort that out later after some rest.
I declared quietly, “With a runtime of about 21 hours, I solemnly announce the successful completion of Chapter 1.”
“Yaaay.”
A weak, dry applause followed, celebrating this half-success. Then, flop. Yuna and I collapsed on the floor, holding hands.
Exhausted.
“Ugh...”
Yuna whined like a sleepy baby otter and crawled onto my body. Aisha, watching this display, clicked her tongue.
“Why so dramatic? You’re an information lifeform, Mimi, so you should be able to extract fatigue at will.”
“Extract? Delete? Living too comfortably makes one lose their humanity.”
“And it racks up inefficiencies. Can’t you see the disorganized pile of information? Get to work.”
“Ah, hush. Don’t try to rob me of a chance to snuggle up with the Tower Master.”
Yuna stretched out her hands, blocking my ears. Such small hands. With my hearing blocked, I was impervious to Aisha’s nagging. Oh, how adorable.
Aisha rolled her eyes and began sorting through the data.
Sure, the sessions had gone smoothly before. So why was I exhausted this time? The answer was simple. There was just so much to do this round.
First off: blending science and magic.
To clarify, I’m a high-performance calculator, not a high-performance scientist. I could dump modern scientific data into Gordius’s head, but that alone wouldn’t cut it.
If I left everything to Gordius and he failed from scratch, the first step of the session wouldn’t even exist. I had to set up the framework myself.
To showcase Woo Chae-rin’s genius, I needed something tangible like a thesis or some other creative output. So, what could I do? If I couldn’t manage it, I’d make someone else do it.
Before this session, I sent a terminal and a letter to Hart of the Northern Duke’s House. I’d enlisted the aid of the Grand Alchemist living up north. What did the letter say?
Essentially, I wanted to borrow his brain while he slept.
Yes, the mana engine, Woo Chae-rin’s paper, the nearly completed robot—all those creations were made by borrowing his mind and knowledge.
It was a system based on the Succubus Queen’s dream world. I handed out sleep aids (which subtly siphoned processing power during slumber) to grad students being worked to the bone at the academy, too.
So, I bundled up all the minds I’d gathered into a collective think tank of sorts. Managing that alone was quite the ordeal. Multiple brains can complicate things.
But the results were brilliant.
“The mana engine is actually operational.”
“This’ll save us on mana stone costs for the session!”
The technology was practical.
The only minor drawback was that the engine’s efficiency depended on the skill of the mage. But if widely adopted, this technology could reshape the world. Maybe even something like arcane-punk.
In which case, building a giant robot in reality wouldn’t be just a dream. Once Gordius comes out, I’ll have to push him to commercialize it.
Skipping forward...
And now, of course, there’s ‘it’—the research and analysis.
I crafted the Great Beast’s physical form but omitted any other special effects. Then, I projected ‘it’ onto the Great Beast using the Demon Sword.
It’s like the Cthulhu sessions but not exactly. Whereas the Evil God could directly meddle with the system, the Great Beast was strictly a story entity.
We don’t really know much about ‘it,’ so we slipped it into the session as a means to observe it.
In other words, the abilities the Great Beast displayed in the session are likely abilities that the original ‘it’ possesses.
So far, the revealed traits are as follows:
[Target Disruption (conceptual)] [Self-Recovery] [Continental Scale Mind Control] [Dragon Scales] [Mutation] [Mana Detection]...and a bunch of yet-undiscovered features. Quite a nasty array of utilities.Considering that only 1% of it has been uncovered, there are probably more powers.
Even if we’re ridiculously lucky and these utilities are all ‘it’ has, this creature is on par with the goddess who shoots divine beams from the heavens. It won’t be anything as straightforward as the Great Beast.
Dragon scales...? I’d rather not imagine.
I buried my head in my hands, lamenting.
“How the hell did my past self manage to seal that thing? Is anyone here willing to go ask ‘Promise’ about it inside my mental defenses?”
“The answer is likely, ‘Some things are better left unknown.’”
“Of course!”
Let’s assume, just for the sake of argument, that this bastard revives and roams the world. How do we fight it?
“Long-range attacks are pointless due to the Snap-Crackle-Pop.”
“Snap-Crackle-Pop... Right. With its advanced version of sugar coating, simultaneous attacks won’t work. We’ll probably have to take it down with melee, which means we’ll need to break through the dragon scales... The damage reduction was significant, right?”
“Dragon scales scale in strength proportionally with size. They process information in a specialized structure, so if the core revives, they’ll be incredibly tough due to the sheer data density.”
“Yuna’s ‘Subtract’ ability will have to burn through them, then...”
We’ll have to counter its utility abilities. The Great Beast overturned the world not long after it appeared, so ‘it’ can likely do the same.
“We must not give it any time.”
“Yeah, if it gets any time... The whole world will be at war again.”
So, if we have to take down a hard-to-kill creature with overwhelming strength in one go, we’re going to need to speedrun it.
Not happening.
Revival must be prevented at all costs. The cleanest way to deal with it is to slowly chip away while it’s still confined in my mind.
But if we do end up fighting it...
We’ll need to stock up on powerful artifacts like Dragon Hearts, or maybe attack it from the inside rather than the outside.
I patted Yuna as I asked, “Alright, let’s take a day off and move into Chapter 2. Did anyone spot something I might’ve missed?”
“The Great Beast... It seems like it has another phase, doesn’t it? I mean, there’s still an unrevealed trait. Are we prepared for that...?”
Ah, that.
There’s no way I wouldn’t prepare for a happy ending.
“Don’t worry. That’s what the wristwatch tattoo is for.”
No matter what, everyone will smile at the story’s end.
===============================================================
I say let’s take a day off, but in reality, there’s no time to rest. Session prep is next.
Time flows differently inside and outside the simulation, roughly at a 1:10 ratio.
That means the player experiences content ten times faster, so the game master has to craft content at ten times the speed.
In this session, Gordius spent over 30 days inside, which might seem inconsistent with the 1:10 ratio. That’s because, like with Irid, I blended in a trick here and there.
Sleep, conversations with extras, simple study—all these unimportant parts were skipped, with only the memories left in his mind.
Things to prepare before the next session tomorrow... Let’s see.
What’s the world like ten years later? How have the machines evolved? Which aspects of the mana engine have advanced or regressed? And at the center of it all, what can Gordius accomplish?
That’s about what I’ll need to whip up.
I settled at my desk and started scribbling with a mana pen. I activated multiple magic circles and simultaneously operated them, juggling modeling with some research.
As Aisha suggested, I could convert any accumulated fatigue into data and extract it. This body, no longer human, has its perks in this area.
I worked diligently, and before I knew it, night had fallen.
I felt a sense of nostalgia. Unlike those days in the slums, flipping through grimy textbooks, I now had more than I could’ve ever asked for.
I already have two lovers who share my heart and even a childhood friend who’s been tagging along. Now I’m deciding whether or not to accept her feelings. What a luxurious dilemma.
As I penned the magic formulas, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
“Your beloved, Yuri Lannister. If you’re doing anything you wouldn’t want me to see... You have ten seconds to tidy up.”
“Come on in. I was just doing some good, clean work.”
“Pity. I was planning to walk in with five seconds left.”
Then why ask in the first place?
Creak. The door opened. A moment later, a soft, malleable weight pressed against my back. Yuri wrapped her arms around my neck, embracing me from behind.
“What are you up to? Hoo...”
Her whisper tickled, sending shivers down my spine.
“...Don’t blow in my ear. I’m working on the session. Not too busy, though. Need any help?”
“Yes, actually. I have a task that’s difficult to do alone.”
“What is it?”
“Ta-da.”
Yuri was holding a small glass in her hand. The pink liquid inside gave off a strong alcoholic scent. Definitely liquor.
“Let’s have a drink.”
“...”
We decided to drink.
A bottle, two glasses, and a plate of dried squid as a snack.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, we poured each other a drink. I rarely drink... The last time was with the professors, knocking back drinks with rowdy men.
It felt different this time.
Strangely, I didn’t feel the need for snacks. Just holding a glass and looking at Yuri was satisfying enough. Maybe it was the visual stimulation.
Yuri noticed my gaze and narrowed her eyes.
“Should I have stripped down?”
“Enough.”
“You seem disappointed.”
“I said enough.”
I raised my glass. Yuri loosened her tie and clinked her glass against mine. Clink, and the scent of cherry blossoms filled the air.
So, what brings her here? And with drinks, no less.
“Any thoughts on this session?”
“...”
I dodged her gaze and took a sip. She smiled faintly, as if she’d hit the mark, adjusting her glasses before continuing her deduction.
“Even in a simple punch, personal thoughts are embedded. How it’s held, how it’s swung—it reveals a lot about a person.”
“Right. It’s a trope that martial arts carry intent.”
“So does the session. Since it’s your hobby, something you dedicate yourself to fully. Thus—your thoughts influence the session. That’s my conclusion.”
“And... so?”
When I finished my glass, Yuri picked up the bottle. She grabbed my wrist to prevent me from pulling away.
“If only I’d been faster... That was a recurring theme in the story, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I know you’re waiting until you’ve dealt with the creature in your head. I respect that. We’ve known each other a long time, yet... other than a few pranks, we’ve done nothing. Not even with Yuna, as far as I know.”
“True...”
Since deciding to be honest with my desires, I’d stopped casting the suppression spell. But we hadn’t progressed beyond that. I’d kept my distance.
There’s a saying: some people have never done it, but nobody does it just once. I feared that crossing that line would lead to a frenzy of nights.
Above all, I was terrified.
What if I had a child? The thought of breaking down due to a failed extraction would be unbearable.
This lingering fear kept a distance between us, subconsciously or otherwise.
“Even if everything goes south, wouldn’t you regret it at the end, thinking, ‘I should have done it sooner’? What do you think, Mimi?”
“...”
“You once told me, during the doppelganger incident, that even in sad times, one should strive for happiness. Do you think you’ve made enough effort in that regard?”
Yuri’s merciless truth bomb left me nodding like a ripened stalk of rice. Maybe she was right.
“Mimi.”
“Yes.”
“I’m here to give you courage. We’re friends first and foremost... Before love, before affection, I genuinely wish for your happiness.”
You saved me, after all.
Pour. Yuri filled my glass and offered some advice.
“Happiness lies beyond fear. Try being a little more assertive.”
“Should I? Would that be okay? But... what if you don’t like it?”
“Just look at you, getting flustered. Well, if you’re worried, you could always practice... with a friend.”
It wasn’t seduction. That’s why it was so tempting.
Yuri was speaking matter-of-factly, as if she genuinely intended to support me, purely as a friend.
That odd kindness stirred a mix of emotions. Love and friendship tangled together—loving and trustworthy.
I covered my face with my hands, mumbling.
“Well... I guess a kiss or two could... be a regular thing for us?”
“Mimi, you’re acting like a teenager.”
Blame it on the booze.
After that, we chatted casually. Yuri asked if I’d thought about introducing new costumes to the academy, or why I hadn’t included her in dress-up games with Aisha.
The night deepened as we sipped and shared stories. Eventually, we went to bed.
===============================================================
The next morning.
“I’d like to propose a new rule— that light acts of affection, like kissing, be naturally accepted among us...”
“Y-Yuri?!”
"Before I could finish my sentence, Yuri Lannister pounced on me, and I spent the next ten minutes struggling for breath under her relentless kisses."