CH 116

It’s late at night, and I’m transmuting alone in the laboratory of the Kagero Institute.

…First, connect the multiple rows of the integrated three-dimensional magic circuit…

My fingers are too thick, so I need Rose and Aroma Vine’s help with the more delicate parts.

There are green gloves in front of me, made by Rose and Aroma Vine’s vines. I put my hands in them, and move slowly.

I move my fingers, and that moves the super-fine but also very strong vines. These pseudo-fingers of sorts can grab very small things, and I’m using this to put together integrated magic circuits inside perfectly pure water.

But the problem is what’s next.

I have a mixture that will be the source of life of the transmuted beast, and is composed of various proteins, minerals, and crushed magic stones. I use this three-dimensional integrated magic circuit as a core to create the embryo that will be a transmuted beast…

“Ah.”

And it crumbles just as it was about to take shape.

“This is no good either. I guess just increasing the processing power of magic circuits won’t work…”

I stop the supply of magic elements that was maintaining the perfectly pure water, and it immediately melts everything that was in it.

“Hm… What is it? I’m completely stumped. Can I really not create a transmuted beast without a magic stone? But then…”

I stretch and leave to go for a walk.

The cloudy sky is hiding the stars. I think about how it fits the slump I’m in, and laugh.

“I wonder where Ahri and Roa are right now.”

Ever since that day when I put on airs in front of Kalin, I’ve been busy making preparations, and I haven’t even been sleeping properly. But since there is a chance that they’ll attack us again, Kalin put Ahri and Roa in charge of patrolling.

I lent them two Hipopo brothers to help just a bit.

“Well, I’m sure they’ll be fine. It would take something big to cause problems for those two, especially with the Hipopo brothers.”

I feel like I’ve been talking to myself a lot while I walk and think.

I walk around aimlessly, and notice that a lot of places I didn’t know about popped up in Habbafulton while I wasn’t here.

“Oh? Is that a church? Did they build it recently?”

A building suddenly catches my eye. I think this was made to worship gods affiliated with the night. The door is wide open, so people can worship during the night, and I can see faint light inside.

The faint light reminds me of moonlight, and it gives the building a gentle atmosphere of tranquility.

Usually I would just walk past it, but I wander close to the entrance.

I slowly peek inside.

“Wow, there are people here at this hour.”

I whisper to myself, probably because I was talking to myself before.

Someone hears me, stands up and turns around. It’s Taula.

“Rust? How rare of you to visit the church at this hour.”

“Oh, it’s you Taula? You startled me. I’m just taking a walk because my transmutation isn’t going so well.”

“What do you mean it’s you? How awful.”

She says while mimicking crying.

“Eh, no, I didn’t mean it like that! Sorry, ah, do you come here to pray?”

“Yes. My goddess, the goddess of vengeance Araysla is affiliated with the night. We also need to pray during the night. So, something is troubling you. You can talk to me if you want.”

Taula says while spreading her arms, as if to say she’ll take what I’ll dish out.

I hesitate for a moment, but decide to accept her offer, and talk about the transmutation that isn’t going well.