No problem at all.
Fujiwara Chika: [You can explain it like that?!]
Wow!
Is that really how it works?
Takumi: [Of course. Who do you think I am? If I say it works, it works!] [I didn't gain knowledge from dozens of worlds for nothing.]
Curse-based magic was essentially gene-targeted attacks.
It broke your body's genetic structure to induce disease, or cause other bizarre effects.
All of it could be rationalized.
So Takumi handing Kaguya a Black Abyss White Flower for treating Patchouli's genetics was no problem.
Houraisan Kaguya: [Okay, then it's settled!] [Hand it over.] [If it doesn't work, you owe me a Holy Mother's Smile.]
Deal done.
Since Takumi said it would work, might as well try it.
If not, they'd figure something else out.
Takumi, after that conversation, crafted a Black Abyss White Flower on the spot.
Usable ten times.
After ten uses, it would shatter.
Once complete, he sent it to Kaguya.
Takumi: [Exclusive red packet for Houraisan Kaguya] [Take it!] [Now send me the magic books.] [I need them right now.] [I'll return them after I finish copying.]
Just like that, they completed a backdoor trade.
Kaguya had no issues with that.
Houraisan Kaguya: [OK, I'm heading to the Scarlet Devil Mansion now.]
She claimed the red packet, then sent Takumi some of the books she had.
With that done, she left the house.
Takumi received the books and began recording them quickly.
Elemental-based magic.
Five elements: Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, Lightning.
He recorded every one of them.
As Takumi worked, Kaguya arrived at the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
Sakuya Izayoi immediately greeted her.
"Princess."
She gave a small bow.
"I'm here to see Patchouli." "Go back to your duties."
With that, Kaguya walked straight in.
She was quite familiar with the place.
She had visited several times.
Sakuya followed behind.
They reached Patchouli's library.
"Patchy~!"
Kaguya called out as she entered.
Patchouli frowned.
"Don't call me that!" "I am not... Patchy!!"
As she spoke, she sneezed.
Awkward.
"Never mind the details!" "I've already negotiated with him." "Lend him your magic books for a bit. He gave me a weapon that can treat your asthma."
Kaguya explained.
Patchouli's eyes lit up.
"As long as he just borrows them, that's fine." "Just return them later."
Patchouli had no problem lending her books.
Besides, there was always that black-white thief coming and going.
As long as they were returned, it was fine.
Seeing that, Kaguya handed her the weapon she got from Takumi.
Patchouli stared at the gun.
"What is this weapon?" "It gives off a dangerous aura."
Just then, a small figure entered the room.
Remilia Scarlet, crouching with her hands on her head.
She walked in and saw the weapon Kaguya was holding.
Even she was a little surprised.
"Black Abyss White Flower!" "This gun can heal Patchouli's asthma."
"Let me see... I think this is how it works."
She activated the weapon's sealed function.
"Zero Rated Power: HeiligeLanze, die Welwitschie!"
As her voice fell, a soft light blossomed.
Everyone in the underground library was stunned.
Even Remilia, a vampire, was taken aback.
The light was gentle, with no harm to vampires.
It wasn't holy light.
This light, rather, gave off a comfortable warmth.
Kaguya directed the power of the Divine Key onto Patchouli.
In that moment, Patchouli felt warm all over.
Her weak body began slowly improving.
Her asthma began to fade.
As Kaguya unleashed the Divine Key's power, Yukari Yakumowho loved to spyimmediately turned her attention there.
A gap opened in a corner, and Yukari peeked through, watching what was happening inside the underground library.
She was stunned.
That must be an artifact from another world.
Kaguya had brought out something truly different.
Yukari had long suspected as much.
But due to Eirin's presence, she hadn't interfered.
Now, Kaguya brought out a weapon like that?
How could she not be curious?
No, rather...
How could any yokai not be curious?
Chapter 154: Finally Free from This Damn Exploitation!
Yakumo Yukari was very curious about Kaguya-hime's means of accessing other worlds.
The idea that someone could connect to other realms intrigued her greatly.
After thinking about it for a while, she simply closed the gap she had opened and rose from her seat, heading directly toward Eientei.
It was time to have a proper talk with Eirin Yagokoro.
...
Meanwhile, Kaguya-hime had no idea about Yukari's actions.
At this moment, she had already cured Patchouli's asthma.
Then, she began transporting Patchouli's books.
Yes, transportingshe was moving them all.
She stuffed entire bookshelves directly into red packets and sent them to Takumi.
Patchouli, now back to her senses, watched the scene unfold in utter confusion.
"Uh... you're moving everything like that, Kaguya?"
Although she had been healed, her verbal quirks hadn't faded yet.
"It's just a temporary loan," Kaguya said with a sweet smile. "Don't worry, they'll be returned soon."
She sped up her pace a little.
Hearing her words, Patchouli twitched slightly at the corners of her mouth.
Well, it was already a done deal, so she couldn't really refuse.
She could only allow Kaguya to continue with the move.
Still, she was deeply curious about how Kaguya managed to send all these items out.
She approached Kaguya and asked her about it.
To Patchouli's curiosity, Kaguya didn't hide anything. She explained the group chat system.
It didn't matter even if others knew about it. Only she could use it anyway.
...
Takumi, unaware of what was going on with Kaguya, noticed the flood of red packets.
He had robots begin copying the contents.
Miori Shiba watched the scene, mouth twitching.
"Did she really just empty someone else's entire library?"
"So many magic books?"
Seriously, this was something else.
Even the bookshelves were included?
Some of them still had things like pajamas on them.
That thin fabricit had to be Patchouli's nightwear!
"She moved everything over."
"We'll copy them first and then return them."
Takumi gave the signal, and robots began scanning and replicating the books.
Miori Shiba was speechless but started flipping through them anyway.
There were many kinds of magic books.
After skimming a bit, she picked one up and began reading seriously.
Lately, she'd been studying magic.
Perhaps due to her esper powers, she had a natural affinity for wind magic.
She progressed through it rapidly.
The book in her hands was a detailed explanation of wind magic.
Due to differences in world scripts, the languages differed, but being in the group meant the text was auto-translated for her.
That might be the best thing about joining the chat group.
She quickly became engrossed in the content.
It included in-depth uses of wind spells, as well as personal noteslikely written by Patchouli.
Patchouli had surely read all of these and mastered many of the spells.
That's why she had written so much insight into them.
Miori Shiba's eyes sparkled as she read.
This was practically the wisdom of a grand witch.
It was invaluable.
Takumi organized the books and uploaded them to the system.
He also had them translated into universally readable formats.
Wouldn't want people not understanding them later.
Once the books were all scanned, Miori had just finished reading hers.
"That was so enriching!"
"No wonder it's written by a grand witch."
She was thrilled. That one book had already boosted her understanding considerably.
If she continued, maybe she could become a great magician herself.
"All right," Takumi said. "Return the book now. I'll send it back. If you want to keep reading, use our library. Everything's been uploaded."
Miori nodded and handed the book back.
"I envy you. You can scan and absorb knowledge instantly."
"Unlike me, who has to read line by line."
She sounded genuinely jealous.
"If you want something, just ask me to upload it to the chat. You can buy it there."
"Not that different."
Nothing to be envious of.
If she needed something, just ask and it'd be there.
But Miori rolled her eyes.
"I'll pass."
"I'd rather read slowly."
"My points are precious."
She was saving up to strengthen herself.
Getting it from the system would cost points, after all.
And she didn't have many.
She intended to save them.
"What if I just implant the knowledge directly into your mind?"
Takumi blinked.
Another methodjust shove the knowledge in.
"Ooh... that could work."
"Using the Herrscher of Knowledge's Authority, right?"
Her eyes lit up.
"Perfect!"
"Let's do that later. First, let's return the books."
Takumi started sending back all the shelves and their contents.
Takumi: [OK! All done.]
[Take your points too.]
He sent Kaguya her promised points.
Kaguya's response was instant.
Houraisan Kaguya: [Received!]
[Time for some serious strengthening!!]
With that, she stopped chatting and headed to the shop interface.
Time to buff herself up.
If Takumi hadn't constantly distracted her with games, she would've saved plenty of points by now.
Boros had saved up enough points and even fought Saitama!
Now, it was her turn!!
Kaguya began purchasing enhancement attempts without hesitation.
Meanwhile, with things wrapped up, Takumi began transferring wind magic knowledge into Miori.
He also handed her a pseudo Herrscher core.
"Here, take this."
"A pseudo core of the Herrscher of Wind."
This would let Miori become a pseudo Herrscherno, a full-fledged one.
After absorbing the Cocoon of Finality from the Honkai world, Takumi's pseudo cores were basically the real deal.
He wasn't splitting his own Authority.
He simply made a copy and gave it to others.
And he still retained full control.
Miori's eyes widened at the sight of the core.
He was giving this... to her?
Chapter 155: I Am the Herrscher of WindWhat Business Do You Have with Me?
When Takumi handed over the Herrscher core, Miori Shiba immediately understood what it was.
And now he was just... giving it to her?
This was an instant power leap!
"Isn't this too valuable?"
She was tempted, but hesitant.
"It's nothing much," Takumi said casually. "You're mine. This is just a copy I made."
"So why not let you use it~?"
And with that, he embedded the core into her body, granting her the power of the Herrscher of Wind.
In addition, Takumi transferred over his knowledge of ideal fluid dynamics to her.
The group task system had now been activated. No one knew what kind of missions might appear next.
It was wise to arm Miori now. She could start earning points as well.
As she received the knowledge and power, Miori's strength soared to become one of the strongest in the entire chat group.
She was already impressive beforeher esper power was honed to Level 4.
But now, with the Herrscher core fused and all of Takumi's knowledge absorbed, she skyrocketed to Level 7.
Continent-level.
That was the rank Takumi once mentioned in the group.
Feeling the immense power inside her, Miori was thrilled.
So this is what it felt like to break through? Was this how Takumi felt when he acquired the Cocoon of the End?
She also noticed something new.
As Takumi's Herrscher, she was now bound to civilization.
The stronger the world became, the stronger her power would grow.
"So I'm bound to civilization"
"The stronger our world gets, the more powerful we'll become."
"So this is how you experience it?"
"Incredible."
She raised her hand gently, altering the weather across several nearby cities.
The entire area cooled down at once.
Climate itself was under her command.
"Such tremendous power!" she exclaimed in awe.
Takumi added, "This is only the beginning. Weather control is the most basic tier."
"With proper development, you could do so much more."
Fluid dynamics had endless potential. Its applications were vast.
Electric currents, extreme heatshe could master all that with enough development.
It was up to her how far she would go.
Miori nodded. "I understand!"
"I'll study fluid dynamics thoroughly."
"Once I grasp all this knowledge in my head, my power will soar to new heights."
Takumi may have dumped the information into her, but understanding it was up to her.
Otherwise, it was just a floating castle in the sky.
Takumi nodded and said no more.
That night, Miori was so excited she didn't sleep.
She couldn't help but boast in the chat group.
Miori Shiba: [I am the Herrscher of Wind. State your business.]
Her arrogant flair made Takumi increase the intensity of her 'training' until she begged for mercy.
So you're the Herrscher of Wind? Do you hear me bragging that I'm the embodiment of Honkai itself?
Thanks to this, everyone in the group learned Miori had become a Herrscher.
Fujiwara Chika was burning with envy.
This was a huge leap forward.
If Takumi felt like it, he could mass-produce Herrschers.
It was absurdoutrageously absurd.
Everyone had started on the same playing field.
Then this guy logs in one day and rockets ahead so far they couldn't even see his shadow.
Everyone was stunned with jealousy.
...
The next day, Takumi woke up and continued working on Aincrad.
He spent several days finishing the designs and construction.
Once everything was in place, he asked Prometheus to announce the opening.
He'd also set up teleportation arrays.
Access required a ticket. It wasn't free.
The moment the announcement was made, Akihiko Kayaba rushed to the nearest teleport point.
When he stepped onto the real Aincrad for the first timehe was overwhelmed.
"This is real!!"
He didn't build this Aincradbut he designed it.
"Of course you'd be the first here," Takumi chuckled, appearing beside him.
"Been waiting a while, huh?"
Kayaba nodded enthusiastically. "Naturally!"
"This place came from my design. I had to see it with my own eyes."
"It's utterly breathtaking."
He stood in the Town of Beginnings.
Everyone would arrive here first.
