Even the real Prometheus had to reach out to Takumi.
Thanks to their direct link, she could contact him anytime.
Inside Aincrad, Takumi paused when he received her message.
"Everyone's this curious about it, huh?" "Alright, give me a few more days." "Once I've finished everything inside."
Right now, Takumi was inserting a core into Aincrad.
It was designed to suppress power levels.
Training needed to start from zero.
Ever heard of Authority Limiters?
Takumi used a pseudo-core modeled on a Constraint Authority as a level-cap and limiter for training purposes.
Chapter 151: How Dare YouI'm a Decent Person!
Anyone who enters here must start from zero.
Unless, of course, Takumi gives you a cheat.
The purpose here is to train real combat experience,
not to let you steamroll through everything.
The bosses and monsters created via magical beast generation
aren't all that strong.
According to Akeno, even the boss on the 100th floor
is only at the level of a high-class demon.
Some cursed children could probably handle them.
If they teamed up, they might even take down the final floor's boss.
That's exactly why Takumi imposed restrictions.
This place is for training and honing real skills.
To facilitate that, Takumi set up level thresholds
based on how many monsters you defeat.
Just like playing an RPG.
Clearing certain floors unlocks higher ones.
Everything will be handled according to plan.
If Takumi thinks of a few other ideas,
this could turn into a full-on grind zone.
Maybe in the future, he could introduce Honkai beasts,
or even simulated Herrschers.
But if he added those now,
it would be way too overpowered for most people.
They'd probably never clear the game.
So for now, it's just a playground.
People can slowly level up later.
After inserting the Constraint Authority core,
Takumi returned home.
Miori Shiba was observing the status of Aincrad.
"Is it done?"
"When will it be open to the public?"
When she saw Takumi return,
she immediately asked.
Hearing this, Takumi replied:
"In a few days."
"It'll be open then."
"Some parts still aren't finished."
Miori Shiba's eyes lit up.
"Can you tell me what it's like inside?"
"I'm really curious!"
A place for real training?
Of course she'd be interested.
She might even spend all her time inside
to train her esper powers.
To be honest, being with Takumi
put a lot of pressure on her.
"I've built quite a few systems."
"Everything I told you about before is in there."
"Also, skill and weapon drops are implemented."
"And I inserted a simulated Herrscher core."
"No matter how strong someone is,
they'll be suppressed to base level."
"Everyone starts from scratch."
"It's the best way to train."
"And any magic you learn inside
can be used for real."
"Train while having fun~!"
Takumi grinned slightly.
He was very satisfied with what he had created.
Hearing all this, Miori Shiba's interest soared.
"That's really impressive."
"But surely there are some restrictions
to the power suppression?"
"It only affects the strong, right?"
It wouldn't make sense to suppress everyone equally.
What about those who are already weak?
"Right."
"Each floor is segmented by power level."
"You can only advance after defeating the boss."
"And the bosses can regenerate."
"So even if one person reaches floor two,
others can't go up unless they've beaten floor one."
"Only those who clear a floor can proceed."
"That way, it proves you're strong enough
to handle what's above."
Takumi explained the structure he'd designed.
Miori Shiba nodded in approval.
"That's a great system."
"We could even send the magic-studying girls
there for training."
"Hold classes directly on-site."
A complete training ground.
"Exactly."
"Some of the girls are really strong."
"Especially now that their genetic code is stabilized."
"Those kids aren't weak at all."
"Take Enju for example
she'd beat many in hand-to-hand combat."
Takumi knew the cursed children's current state well.
Their Gastro Virus genes had been turned
into esper abilities.
That boosted their power even further.
Now they could fight without any hesitation.
Their natural talent was finally shining through.
When they grew up, they'd be terrifyingly strong.
Many of them already had solid combat experience.
They'd been fighting as Initiators since they were young.
Miori Shiba nodded again.
"Very true."
"Some of those girls are already incredibly strong."
"Especially now that they're picking up magic and martial arts."
At that moment, Miori Shiba suddenly felt useless.
She'd only enhanced herself once using points...
But her power wasn't particularly impressive.
She twitched at the thought.
Looks like she needed to work harder too.
If not, she'd be completely left behind.
"Can the Magical Gear Girls go too?"
Lilia spoke up just then.
After learning about Aincrad,
Velia thought maybe her Magical Gear Girls
should also train there.
Yes, those rookie soldiers.
Velia had several billion Magical Gear Girls.
Many had combat experience,
but plenty hadn't fought at all.
To maintain combat strength,
it would be good to send them over.
No graduation until floor 100!
"Of course they can."
"Just send them over."
"I'll set up an entry point in Velia's territory."
Takumi planned to use teleportation magic
for all access to Aincrad.
Just like how Rias and the others returned to the demon realm.
Set up a magic circle, and done.
Moving to the next floor inside Aincrad
would also use these circles.
He'd set up magic circles in schools
and public squares.
"Good!"
"I'll make arrangements."
Lilia stood up and vanished.
She went off to prepare.
It was time to get ready.
Seeing how eager she was,
Takumi could only sigh.
"Looks like Lilia won't be home tonight."
"Heehee~!"
"Should I invite Kusanagi or Yuu over instead?"
After Lilia left,
Miori Shiba winked at Takumi.
Hearing that,
Takumi was instantly speechless.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"I'm a decent person!"
How shameless!
What kind of talk was that?
Did he seem like that kind of guy?
"Tch~!"
"Decent person? Please."
She scoffed.
If Takumi was a decent man,
then there were no gentlemen left in the world.
"I'm going to cook."
Grumbling inwardly,
Miori Shiba left.
She couldn't be bothered to say more.
She got up and went into the house to cook dinner.
Takumi shook his head.
He didn't think too hard about it.
Looking at the distant floating city,
Takumi entered the group chat.
Chapter 152: How Is This Considered Stealing?
Inside the group chat
Miori Shiba had already posted the image of Aincrad descending. Everyone was discussing it.
Zhongli: [Ningguang would definitely love a structure like this.] [I must admit, it's truly magnificent!]
The old man was also impressed. Compared to Takumi's floating city, Ningguang's Jade Chamber was just a toy.
Sagiri: [Prometheus told me it'll be open in a few days.] [We'll be able to go in and train our abilities.]
Sagiri was in Takumi's world, so she naturally knew more details. She shared this with everyone.
Takumi: [@Sagiri, you'll be starting school in a few days.] [Make sure to study magic or Taoist techniques properly.] [Only then will your esper abilities become truly combative.]
Sagiri's powers alone lacked battle capability. They only worked when combined with spells.
She could learn rune magic or talisman arts, those would help her use her powers effectively.
Sagiri: [!!!!] [Got it!!] [By the way, Takumi-oniichan, Yuki was reincarnated as an angel.] [She and her older sister both were, chosen by Lady Gabriel.]
Sagiri hadn't expected Takumi to pop in. She also remembered something and quickly told him.
Yuki and her sister Ranko from next door had both been reborn as angels.
She only found out today. She was dumbfounded when she saw them descend.
Takumi: [Seriously? That's quite something.]
Takumi was surprised by Sagiri's message.
Gabriel had them both reborn as angels? Looks like they had great potential.
Yuuki Asuna: [An angel!! Yuki became an angel?!]
That news shocked Asuna as well.
Good grief, how long have they even been in Takumi's world? Already becoming angels.
Fujiwara Chika: [I'm jealous. Reincarnating as an angel beats esper powers any day.]
That's a giant leap forward. Much better than some petty superpower.
Takumi: [Oh, so now you're looking down on it? Then give my potion back!!] [You took my potion and still wouldn't even show me thigh highs!!]
Now you're acting like it's nothing, huh? If you don't want it, give it back!
Fujiwara Chika: [Nope!! Don't even think about it!!]
Give it back? In this lifetime? Not happening.
She used it. Why should she return it?
Takumi: [Alright, noted!!] [Mobius will probably develop an advanced esper enhancement serum soon.] [Hope you won't regret it then.] smiles.jpg
Fujiwara Chika: [!!!!]
Crapan esper evolution potion?
She needed that.
Now she was panicking.
Did she doubt Mobius could make one? Nopeshe wasn't a specialist, but Mobius was absurdly brilliant.
It probably wasn't even difficult.
Takumi: [When I don't put it in the shop, don't come begging~!]
When she saw this, Chika practically screamed.
Fujiwara Chika: [You're evil!!] [No problem, there are still girls on your sideI'll ask them instead.]
Hmph! As if she'd be threatened so easily.
Takumi: [No worries, I'll make sure to watch them finish using it. The vials self-destruct on the spot.]
Going through others? Not a chance. If you manage that, I lose!
Fujiwara Chika: [()]
You evil bastard!!
She was utterly speechless. This guy was truly the worst.
Houraisan Kaguya: [@Takumi, you there?] [Want some magic books?]
Out of nowhere, Kaguya pinged Takumi.
Her message left him surprised.
Magic books? Did she rob Patchouli or Megatron?
Takumi: [Did you steal from Patchouli or Megatron?]
Kaguya might own a few books, but definitely not in bulk.
So they were probably... black market goods!
Takumi felt like he'd uncovered the truth!
Houraisan Kaguya: [Nonsense!! How is it stealing?!] [I clearly borrowed them!!]
She didn't steal. She borrowed them.
From Patchouli!
Using "helping treat her illness" as an excuse.
That witch had asthma. Frequently needed meds. Often borrowed them from Eirin.
The Holy Mother's Smile potion from Takumi had helped suppress Patchouli's asthma.
So Kaguya proposed borrowing the books in exchange.
Now she had a whole pile.
But she wasn't planning to upload them.
She had to return them, after all.
Instead, she wanted to lend them to Takumi and trade for something.
Takumi: [Alright, what do you want?]
He knew Kaguya wouldn't act unless she had something to gain.
If she reached out, she definitely wanted something.
Houraisan Kaguya: [Give me another Holy Mother's Smile, and I'll empty Patchouli's library for you.] [You can borrow all her magic books. Just return them later.] [Of course, I expect a reward, right? (pwq)]
This fortune should fall into my lap, no?
Takumi read her message, his expression turning strange.
Wow, she's planning to be a middlewoman?
Takumi: [So what do you need another Smile for?] [And what exactly do you want?]
A reward? What kind?
Houraisan Kaguya: [The Holy Mother's Smile is for Patchouli~!] [It suppresses her asthma.] [I'll trade it for access to her library.] [As for what I want... not much.] [Just give me 500 points.] [I want a full enhancement!!]
The moment she mentioned it, she sounded full of resentment.
Takumi had been off in the 3-wheeled world recently, so he hadn't uploaded any games.
Which let her save some points.
Otherwise, she'd have burned them on game downloads.
So far, she hadn't bought any enhancements.
Her first one would be a big upgrade.
It would definitely transform her abilities.
She was only 500 points short.
So she aimed to get them from Takumi.
Back when she completed a mission, Takumi even snatched her reward points!
She fought hard for them and this guy took everything.
Takumi: [For asthma, maybe Black Abyss White Flower would work better.] [It's more effective.] [As for the pointsfine, I agree.]
He thought about it and agreed.
Conveniently, Takumi planned to fuse his magical knowledge into a new Authority.
He'd need more magic books for that.
Chapter 153: How Curious the Yokai Are!
Kaguya-hime read Takumi's message.
After thinking it over, she agreed.
Black Abyss White Flower, huh? That seemed usable.
But could she actually use it? Wasn't Black Abyss White Flower something not just anyone could wield?
She didn't have Honkai energy, after all.
So she probably wouldn't even be able to activate it.
Takumi: [No worries, I'll make a disposable one.] [It'll work on activation.]
No big deal.
Was something like this difficult for Takumi? Of course not.
Kaguya froze when she read that.
A single-use version? Seriously?
Can't he be a little more generous?
Houraisan Kaguya: [At least ten uses!!] [One use? Who are you trying to fool?!]
She wasn't asking for a permanent one, but Black Abyss White Flower was seriously useful.
A Divine Key of both deconstruction and creation.
Its destructive function disassembled all in its path, while its creative power healed damage.
That made it absurdly convenient.
Of course she wanted more uses.
Fujiwara Chika: [Wait, I have a question.] [Wasn't Patchouli's asthma actually cursed?] [Can Black Abyss White Flower really treat that?]
Wasn't her condition curse-based?
Could this gun really treat it?
It'd be a problem if it didn't work.
Takumi: [Not a problem!] [A curse is just something that gives you a condition. Asthma's a condition. We treat the condition.] [Just a genetic flaw. Fix the genes. Done.]
A curse?
In scientific terms, it was just magical energy causing genetic damage.
So fixing the genetic code with Black Abyss White Flower would solve the issue.
