Chapter 162: 60fps Magic Flower Arrangement

In the end, I decided that the physical immunity function to be implemented in Cyonos should prioritize stability over magic consumption.

The ghost mode created by the Kamikakushi-style four-dimensional technique grants a state of physical immunity where one can pass through matter. However, the drawback is that it becomes vulnerable to exorcism magic and can be destroyed.

So I increased the number of four-dimensional folding iterations to a total of eleven. This maximizes existence strength in theory. As a result, exorcism magic resistance became significantly harder to apply, and its effectiveness was reduced to that of ordinary attack magic.

In exchange for gaining resistance to exorcism magic, the magic consumption jumped from 170K per second to 400K. This is an extremely heavy consumption level that would exhaust not only normal humans but even demons within seconds.

However, Kyanos has the same 8000K magic storage capacity as the royal scepter Beifan. Hiyori herself also possesses abundant magic reserves. Rather than lowering performance to reduce consumption, we decided it was better to increase consumption if it meant higher performance.

With current technology, it is impossible to achieve both low consumption and high performance. This is the limit.

The data obtained from this series of Kamikakushi research is enormous.

Not only did it help implement new functions for magic staffs, but it may also lead to breakthroughs in ghost Gremlin research.

Until now, there were many mysteries regarding the emergence and reproduction of ghost-type magical creatures.

But if they are in a semi-transparent physical-immunity state due to partially existing in the fourth dimension, the situation changes completely.

Perhaps ghost monsters are generated in four-dimensional space.

Or perhaps they reproduce there.

Even though nearly 90 years have passed since the Gremlin disaster, it is still unclear where ghost creatures come from or how they increase in number. It would make sense if they are partly living in the fourth dimension. No matter how much field research is done in three-dimensional space, we cannot observe what happens in the fourth.

Whether my hypothesis is correct or not will likely be determined by monster researchers, led by Mamono-kun.

There is even a chance of industrial production of ghost Gremlins.

Just as elasticity Gremlins can be produced in zero-gravity environments and high-strength Gremlins can be produced under high pressure, environmental conditions can affect Gremlin properties.

If Gremlins are raised in a Kamikakushi-style semi-transparent physical-immunity state where they partially exist in the fourth dimension, they might become ghost Gremlins.

If collecting ghost Gremlins from ghost creatures requires exorcism magic, then in the Kamikakushi method, they could simply be returned to the third dimension by canceling the physical immunity state. This would allow recovery without using exorcism magic. Possibly.

Of course, this is a chain of speculative assumptions stacked on assumptions, basically a castle built on air. Still, I believe Kamikakushi-style operation could lead to breakthroughs in various technologies.

I sent related documents and processed samples to Japan, so from here, magical researchers will probably figure things out in their own way.

As planned, I ended the stay exactly after one week and had Hiyori return the original Kamikakushi wand to the temple’s elderly head priestess.

I had assumed it would be placed in her husband’s grave as a keepsake, but that was not the case at all. It will instead be used as a tourist attraction for the town, with backing from both “0933” and the Blue Witch.

Even at nearly 90 years old, her forward-looking attitude toward the town’s future was impressive.

We headed south from Jalaria City back to the main road, then boarded a steam locomotive bound for Mumbai on India’s west coast. From there, the plan was to go straight by sea to the port of Kuwait.

The train rattled more than Japanese trains—maybe due to the tracks or the carriage—but the first-class seats were soft and sturdy.

Tsubaki had opened a brand-new notebook on her lap and was writing food reviews in Japanese (she had apparently gotten tired of picture books and studying Hindi). Hiyori sat quietly with Kyanos, eyes closed.

As for me, I was engraving a 60fps magic flower on the window frame of the passenger cabin.

The 60fps magic flower is a Gremlin-made artificial flower that changes its structure at 60 frames per second using four-dimensional transformation.

Its blue rose petals are normally closed in bud form.

When Hiyori holds it, a magic recognition system embedded in the stem activates by absorbing a small amount of her magic.

When activated, each petal contains a densely engraved geometric expansion map that folds four-dimensionally, while petals stored in the fourth dimension continuously appear in sequence.

In other words, when Hiyori holds the bud, it blooms smoothly with 60 transformations per second.

Right now, I was adding a mechanism so that when she releases it, the flower would smoothly close back into a bud.

It wasn’t particularly difficult work, but the train kept shaking constantly. I had to carefully compensate for the vibration, which slowed me down significantly.

In the end, I finished it during a long midday stop, taking a total of five hours.

I received my meat bento from Hiyori—who had bought lunch boxes for two people and lubricant for one at a station shop—and handed her the newly completed 60fps magical flower in return.

Hiyori, slightly confused, accepted it—and the moment she held it, the blue rose blossomed beautifully like a jewel, making her let out a soft exclamation as she examined it closely.

“That’s quite a beautiful thing you made. Your four-dimensional processing skills have improved, haven’t they? It seems safe enough. Magic consumption is low too—it’s a very practical technique.”

“What are you even talking about?”

Ignoring her attempt to return the flower, I pushed her hand away.

Of course it’s safe. I used the Kamikakushi method, not the Hatobato style.

“It’s just a gift. For you, Hiyori.”

“Eh? …Was today some kind of anniversary?”

“Are you saying I can’t give my girlfriend a gift unless it’s an anniversary?”

I braced myself for another communication failure, but Hiyori quickly shook her head and hugged the flower tightly to her chest.

That wasn’t the reaction I expected. I was imagining a smile like “Wow, it’s beautiful, Dairi, I love you!” or something.

Hmm. It probably just confused her because it was too elaborate for a normal day, not a special occasion. Still, she seemed happy, so I guess it’s fine.

“If it would’ve been better to give it on an anniversary, should we just say today is one? Like… ‘The day I liked Hiyori a little more than yesterday anniversary’? Or no, that doesn’t work, that’s every day. Got any better ideas?”

“……”

When I asked, Hiyori made a strange sound, turned bright red up to her ears, and hid her face under her witch hat, looking away.

What? Why is she suddenly embarrassed? I was just discussing anniversary naming ideas.

I really don’t understand what part is embarrassing. The emotions of girls are complicated.

“Mi-mi-mi! What about Tsubaki Anniversary? A day for amazing Tsubaki?”

“Oh, then let’s make today Tsubaki Anniversary.”

“Mi! Anniversary!”

Tsubaki happily raised her hands, completely simple and easy to understand.

Honestly, all intelligent life should be this straightforward.

While she enthusiastically added “Tsubaki Anniversary!” to her travel food journal, Hiyori silently hugged me from behind.

“Dairi, you really are a good boyfriend.”

“Is that so? Then can you tell me why you’re embarrassed? I really don’t get it.”

“…The only problem with you is that your communication skills are dead.”

While Hiyori patiently explained it in a way even my dead communication ability could understand, the three of us ate lunch together.

Eventually, the train blew its whistle and started moving toward the next station, carrying us further along our journey.