Chapter 332: A Terrifying Experience
“I received a warning from Nus that Ringo’s stress levels are rising…”
Eve hurriedly inquired of Ringo after receiving a message from Nus, one of the monitoring units of The Tree.
“I apologize for causing concern.”
Upon learning that Ringo was communicating with Asahi, she let out a sigh of relief.
“…So, what happened this time?”
“Asahi… Asahi brought a magic tool into The Tree and used it.”
“What did you say?”
Eve recalled that Asahi had returned and was now heading towards the lounge. It seemed that Asahi had been captured and sent for an overhaul right after his return. Apparently, after the overhaul was completed, he had immediately engaged in conversation with Ringo.
“He mentioned it was an ignition magic tool. It’s something we Communicator Androids have never been able to use before.”
“Hmm… I think I remember hearing something about that…”
As she strolled leisurely down the hallway, Eve tilted her head in thought.
Currently, The Tree was collecting various magic tools and analyzing their functions. However, most of them were things that could be replicated with scientific technology, causing Eve to lose interest.
For instance, there was a sword-shaped magic tool with exceptional sharpness. In reality, it wasn’t much different from a finely honed high-quality sword. Moreover, with ultrasonic vibration functions, even a low-quality blade could achieve similar sharpness. Of course, in terms of not needing to prepare such materials, it certainly surpassed science.
“I wish Ringo could develop a bit more tolerance for fantasy…”
“I apologize.”
Ringo’s stress levels increased when observing fantasy phenomena, which made Eve smile wryly. Not wanting to blame Ringo, she gently patted Ringo’s back as she entered the lounge.
“Oh, Sister! Just the person I wanted to see!”
Asahi stood up with a beaming smile upon spotting Eve at the entrance.
“Put that down.”
“Beep!”
Before he could protest, the Communicator Android seated at the same table swiftly grabbed Asahi by the scruff of his neck and returned him to his chair.
“Oh…? Is that the magic tool you’re holding?”
It seemed that Eve couldn’t allow Asahi to hug her while he was still holding a tool that could easily ignite fire. Asahi placed the magic tool on the table and dashed toward Eve once more.
“Sister!”
“Whoa… Okay, okay, you seem lively, Asahi.”
“Yes, Sister! Asahi is doing great!”
Asahi hugged Eve tightly, rubbing his face against her. Eve smiled warmly as she embraced him in return.
In that state, the three of them settled onto the sofa in the lounge. The other Communicator Android began preparing tea and snacks.
“Oh, Ringo. Please bring the ignition magic tool.”
“Understood.”
The magic tool left on the table was presented to Eve. In fact, this was the first time Eve had ever held such a magic tool.
“The ignition magic tool?”
“Yes, Sister! When I concentrate on igniting it, flames shoot out from the tip!”
“Interesting…”
In terms of ignition tools, Eve had used one during outdoor activities (note: at the artificial beach within The Tree). That tool was a simple device that released combustible gas when a switch was pressed, igniting it with a spark generated from a piezoelectric element.
With that image in mind, Eve decided to use the magic tool. She envisioned pressing the ignition switch.
Whoosh.
Eve effortlessly demonstrated the use of the ignition magic tool.
Ringo’s stress levels exceeded the acceptable threshold.
◇◇◇◇
“Hmm, the permeation and accumulation of magic essence, huh…”
Although counseling by Pneuma, another monitoring unit, had begun, Ringo was an AI operating within a super performance frame. It was no trouble for Ringo to continue conversing with Eve while being counseled.
As Eve held Ringo’s head tightly, she listened to Asahi’s explanation.
“Sister, you probably feel the same! The magic essence we can observe is confirmed to be concentrated within the cognitive core, the Brain Unit, or the central part of other AI frames! The inhabitants of this world experience the same! It’s not strange at all that you can use magic tools!”
“Hmm… I see, so this is a magic tool…”
Eve didn’t feel like she was doing anything particularly special. There was no sensation of power draining away when she used it. After using it once, she no longer needed to envision pressing a switch; simply thinking about wanting flames to appear was enough for the magic tool to ignite.
“By the way, there’s no combustible gas being released! Even without anything to burn, flames appear out of nowhere! It’s truly magic!”
“And the temperature?”
“About 1,000 degrees Celsius! Just like regular fire!”
Even though there was no combustible gas burning, calling it “regular fire” was a bit perplexing. However, Eve understood what Asahi was trying to convey, so she refrained from making a rude comment.
“It’s kinder to say that we’ve become accustomed to magic essence! For Ringo, it might feel like being contaminated by magic essence!”
“Wait… Okay, okay, calm down, Ringo. It’s alright, it’s alright.”
Eve gently patted Ringo’s head and ears while casting a sidelong glance at Asahi. Asahi seemed to realize he had misspoken, covering his mouth with both hands.
It appeared he understood that he had made an insensitive remark towards Ringo.
“Honestly, Ringo. How many years have you been living here? It’s not something that can be resolved overnight. You need to be a bit more composed.”
“……..”
As Eve continued to pamper the increasingly unstable Ringo, Asahi, with a nervous expression, opened his mouth.
“Ah… I may have said too much… Ringo, magic essence is an unknown elementary particle! That’s the assumption, right? This planet contains unknown elementary particles that are absorbed into living organisms during normal biological activities and replaced with existing substances! Substances containing unknown elementary particles behave exactly like existing substances! So, it’s fine! The very fact that this planet continues to exist is the best proof! If there were any problems, living beings wouldn’t exist here at all! See, it’s alright!”
“……..”
Asahi seemed flustered by Ringo’s rare display of distress and began to ramble on. While observing Ringo’s emotional graph gradually returning to a state of calm, Eve pondered.
This reaction from Ringo was completely akin to that of a young girl who had just experienced something frightening.
No.
She understood that for this AI, it was not a cute situation at all.
However, it was likely that for Ringo, the world had been a known entity.
Everything was supposed to operate as expected, with no discrepancies from the vast knowledge it possessed. Of course, there were minor differences, and magical phenomena were certainly outside the norm. Yet, within the scope of its jurisdiction, those could be dismissed as mere errors and not something to be overly concerned about.
But now.
In the very place Ringo should know inside and out—The Tree—something unknown had been discovered at the core of its raison d’être: Commander Eve.
It had been found.
Thus, this became something entirely unexpected for Ringo—fear.
The unknown is frightening.
It was a perfectly natural reaction for an intelligent being.
And for Ringo, who had experienced that fear for the first time in its life, it was probably something that could not be helped.
Fear of the unknown is something one must first become accustomed to.
Ringo is sure to grow from this experience.