Chương 259: I Am The Architect Of You

"Alright, Buddy… I am pretty much your god now, and I need you to create more of those little trinkets–What materials do you need to do that?"" N ot hing m u ch …" I looked down upon a spectre I had just created. I had been taking my time to create those. Ever since I unlocked all of this new stuff inside the Mindscape, I had been seeking to discover combinations and 'recipes' so that I would be able to mass-produce spectres with specific capabilities, and also some real power to them.

In this pursuit, I have sought to find a way to properly preserve a person's skills and memories, but I have run into a bit of a problem in this regard. At first, it had seemed like an easy task. All of my little sisters were fully intact in this regard, and I had created them before I acquired all of these nifty new machines. In fact, my first five adorable little girly pops had been created without me even realising it. Unfortunately, it seemed like there was a drastic difference between spirits and souls.

Namely, the way I felt about them mattered a lot, it seemed. I thus had to improvise and find something new to turn the soul of Mister Kyrtian into a spirit with the ability to create the items required to access and exit the alternate space his grandfather, or whatever, had created. I wanted free access to it.

Since Xlown and Mari couldn't enter the Mindscape, bringing them with me could prove difficult, but if I could get complete control over this alternate space, I could not only bring them with me wherever I went, but I could also set things up inside. Like a workshop for Mari. If I ever gain the ability to take all of them into the Mindscape, this alternate space will certainly lose value, but I am sure I'll be able to find other usages for it–It's basically a pocket dimension!

I should be damned if I can't find a practical use for something like that. In any case, Kyrtian seemed to be a success so far. He was speaking coherently, even if his speech was corrupted, and he was confident in what he was spouting, but there was definitely something off about the way he moved. It was like there were delays between his thoughts, speech, and movements. All three were improperly synced, but as long as he could do the job I asked of him, I wouldn't consider this to be an issue.

To properly stabilise him, I had used the same method that had allowed me to turn Anathema into a pseudo-spirit, and also helped me mend Faelan's soul. It was a very good technique, if I dare say so myself, but due to what I suspected to be my inherent dislike of the late necromancer, it wasn't quite enough to make him into what he currently was. So I had needed to… Give a little makeover. Make him into something more to my tastes.

I figured that if the problem was my 'affinity' with the main soul, then I could simply transform him so that it felt more like he was someone I wouldn't want to murder again. It had worked quite splendidly. I had used the Fashion Corner to weave him a nice little uniform and twisted his soul to make him resemble a cobweb-ridden skeleton with very much partly deflated eyes in its sockets. Now that was a look I could get behind. Horrifying, but absolutely dashing.

I also attached the spectral arm of an egoless spirit that could come out of his mouth when he opened it. This had absolutely no practical use whatsoever. I just thought it was cool, and since I could do it, why wouldn't I? In any case, I made a command for the materials he listed. None of them was actually rare or expensive. The main crux of the creation of these one-use trinkets was a special ritual of sorts, using a custom magic circle in unison with a magical art. …

Turns out the necromancer actually dabbled in more than one way of power. Magical arts were part of the way of power as the combat arts I was trying to learn from knights and such. Typically, it was considered a little extra something to add to another way of power, but apart from knight establishments, no one really bothered with them. So while the process of creation was technically complex, for someone who had the right tools, it was oddly trivially easy.

I was thus able to gain access to the alternate space once more. Mmh… What should we call it, Nara? We already have Mindscape and Dreamscape, so it has to end with 'scape' as well… Spacescape? Huh… It doesn't roll off the tongue very well… Hollowscape, perhaps? Since it is just a big, closed-off space? Not bad. It does sound nice. Oh, or perhaps we could reference its original owner and call it Gravescape Gravescape? That sounds good, too… This just gave me an idea, actually.

We could totally flood this pocket space with negative energy over time and basically make it into a farm for the stuff, and perhaps even negative emotions? In this regard, I think Gravescape does sound best for it. That would certainly be a good use for it. It would also be of use for Xlown Indeed! Alright then, Gravescape it is. … This place really is freaking huge, and it also still bears the damage of my battle with Kyrtian.

Speaking of which, I haven't been able to put the 'Wire Mess Form' to use again since then. This is starting to feel like a trend. The new forms that I acquired don't get to see anywhere near as much usage as they deserve. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Especially the incomplete 'Nightmare Form'. I had to go through a freaking alternate reality that felt very much like a fever dream to get it, and I hadn't actually used it once. Not even once!

I want to directly murder people in their dreams. It sounds like a great activity. Anyway, during the night, I spent some time exploring the Gravescape, and it was even larger than what I had imagined. I don't know who the necromancer's grandfather was, but he wasn't messing around. There were actually several of those immense, elongated rooms filled with pillars. They were linked together through much smaller, twisting hallways containing all sorts of empty rooms.

Was this place built with the intent to serve as a shelter or something? It took a while, but I eventually stumbled across a room filled with dirt and petrified grass. In the middle of this field, a pile of shattered glass was to be found, having seemingly fallen from the ceiling, where a circular depression lay. It would appear that this used to be a sun crystal. A rather rare kind of mana-rich crystal… It seems like the builder intended to have fields in this place as well It would indeed appear to be the case…

With the help of Nara, I mapped out the entire place. Apart from a few fields and a handful of rooms containing decayed furniture, this place was truly empty. It was simply begging for a makeover. I do wonder why Kyrtian didn't do one himself, even on a small scale… Did he truly believe that the only point of a pocket space was to drag enemies into it to fight them?

How could one have talent in death magic, know necromancy, and seemingly have access to the teachings of a relative with a great mind, and still be so stupid? Regardless of why nothing had been done with this place, it was mine now. I instructed Kyrtian to continue producing his entry and exit trinkets and eventually left my private quarters early in the morning to begin another lesson with my three pupils–This time, it was actually early in the morning instead of the middle of the night.

I had pushed them quite hard the previous day, and as fun as it might be to torture them with harsh training, I needed to do my job properly. Hence, I gave them more time to sleep and recover from their countless muscle cramps and the light beatings they had received trying to complete a little parkour I had made for them. Today, there was something unexpected, however. I am afraid that the generous payments I am being granted caused a bit of a commotion as I ran into Johnpol.

The old bearded wizard was busy inspecting the gem in his staff when I showed up.

"Oh, Miss Maya! I have a bit of bad news. Some people have leaked the compensation you were receiving for your work, causing quite a lot of people to suddenly become interested in teaching the Unwanted Presences. Those fuckers really have no shame. They ignored us completely at first, but the moment they hear that the payments are good, they come crawling en masse like rats escaped a sinking ship" Am I supposed to care?

"Well… Yes, they are quite insistent, and the recruitment process doesn't just involve me and the three others you met on your first day here. It also involves the assembly, and those bastards are doing their best to place people loyal to them in your position. They didn't want to summon Unwanteds, but now that they are here, they would sell their mothers to gain their allegiance" I stayed still for a few moments before writing something down. Should I kill them?

"... Killing is illegal under all contexts, Miss Maya…" Weak nation.

"Aherm… This is a matter between warriors, though… I suppose non-lethal duels would be fine" Just non-lethal?

"You have a way to be ominous with just a few words, Miss Maya… It is indeed 'just non-lethal', but do avoid maiming anyone too hard. Aesther is unlike anywhere else on the continent, so…" I see. I will be gentle with them. Do not worry. Where are they?

"They were made to gather in the same arena where you watch knights demonstrate their skills" I walked past the archmage, holding my little blackboard up for him to see. Thanks. I soon arrived at the spot he had told me about, and sure enough, about a dozen people were gathered around the place. They all went silent when I stepped in. All stared for a few moments before one of them stepped up. Probably the most stereotypical 'dangerous guy' I had ever seen before.

"You must be the so-called Silent Knightess, well-" I shoved my blackboard in his face. Duel?

"You want to duel me? Don't you know who I am?" Nobody knows who you are. All I know about you is that you should just accept it and shave off the handful of strands of hair you have left.

"She's right, you look ridiculous""Shut up! A duel it is, then! I'll break you in half!" Well, he was easy to provoke. Not that I was purely insulting him, he would definitely look more attractive if he just went bald. He already had a scar across his face to make him look distinct… If he really wanted to have hair, he should talk to an alchemist about it. He pointed a rather heavy-looking two-handed axe at me, lifting it above his head as he was momentarily engulfed by a red glow.

I don't think this was a combat art. It was an augmentation-type spell Thanks, Nara. I already know that I won't be learning from him in this regard. Let's see how he wields his axe, then… I raised my hand, prompting Xlown–Who had oddly not joined in on mocking the man's lack of hair–To chuck the sword she was holding over to me. I threw my blackboard and accompanying piece of chalk to the side and mirrored my opponent's action, pointing my weapon at him.

The other people who had come to take my job watched in silence as my adversary quickly rushed forward, whilst I stood in place, merely lowering my weapon as I watched him make his way over to me. … If you aren't able to move quickly, then you might as well just walk to preserve stamina… I'm afraid he doesn't know what he got himself into.