nownovels Chapter 357
Chapter 357
Chapter 357
In the imperial city of Emperatos, within the Magic Department’s research library, Harriet found herself surrounded by an overwhelming collection of magical research materials.
The sheer volume of material was so vast that she wondered if anyone could ever read through it all in their lifetime, even if it was limited to just one field of dimensional magic.
However, having access to the imperial Magic Department’s resources was not merely about visiting a library filled with precious books. It meant she could summon expert mages who had already understood and internalized the information within these texts to help her understand their contents. She could also receive assistance from specialists who could provide concrete research data to back up abstract questions.
Harriet was truly studying under the emperor’s tutelage.
“Imaginary dimensions?” Harriet asked.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Harriet was reminded, after a long time, of her high status among the nobility.
At the Temple, she might be mocked and called “Thick-Skull” by a beggar-born rascal, but in reality, this was her true nature.
The powerful and authoritative mages of the Imperial Magic Department addressed her with the utmost respect, calling her “Your Grace” while nervously trying to share everything they knew, afraid to offend her in any way.
Of course, even without the rascal, it was still somewhat awkward. She counted the imperial prince and princess among her classmates, as well as the daughter of a duke and the prince of Kernstadt. Even though there were rules preventing them from using their own status to stand above their peers, she had classmates with equal or greater prestige than her.
Therefore, Harriet was enjoying her studies while having her noble pride replenished after a long time.
The mention of “imaginary dimensions” made Harriet tilt her head in curiosity. She had been given that answer when asking for clarification on parts of the warp gate system that she couldn’t understand.
“It’s a concept of a dimension that doesn’t actually exist but is assumed to exist.”
“Hmm... Assuming something exists when it doesn’t?”
“Yes.”
“Why is such a concept necessary?”
In response to Harriet’s question, the research mage launched into a lengthy explanation.
“Two-way, one-time dimensional gates don’t require such a concept,” he said slowly. “They activate once and then close after a certain period. However, the warp gate system is a permanent, multi-directional dimensional gate network.”
To make it easier to understand, the researcher drew a diagram on a blank sheet of paper on the table.
[Gate — Gate]
“For such a connection, it would be simpler to make it a one-time gate. There’s no need to establish the concept of an imaginary dimension. Regardless of the complexity of the magic itself, the structure is simple, isn’t it? There’s only one connection between gates.”
“That makes sense.”
“But if you consider having three gates, how many connection paths would there be between each gate?”
“Three, right?”
Assuming there were three gates, A, B, and C, the necessary paths to connect the gates would be A-B, A-C, and B-C, totaling three. The connections were bidirectional, so the order of the gates didn’t matter.
“What if there are four?”
“Six.”
“The more warp gates there are, the number of paths increases exponentially, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
“Not all warp gates are connected in this way, but the number of connection paths between gates in the current warp gate network exceeds two hundred thousand.”
“... That’s an enormous number.”
Harriet, who hadn’t realized the extent of the warp gate network, couldn’t help but gape slightly at the researcher’s words.
“The warp gate system is the largest magical system in human history—or rather, in the history of the continent. Therefore, a shared spatial recognition system was needed to determine how to set the permanent dimensional paths and which gates to connect to where. That’s why the concept of an imaginary dimension was created.”
An imaginary map...
If it were a dimensional gate created by one person, there would be no need to share it with anyone else. It would be a one-instance magic constructed from one’s own thoughts.
However, the warp gate system was a collaborative architectural structure built through the cooperation and collaboration of numerous mages. It meant that everyone had to have the same map or blueprint in their minds to add or modify anything within the warp gate system. That was what was called the imaginary dimension.
An imaginary map or blueprint that had been built up by the researchers and architects of the warp gate system, all the way up to this point. A conceptualized imaginary dimension that was assumed to exist but did not. Understanding it was a prerequisite to approaching the magic of warp gates.
“This is the most recently updated map of the imaginary dimension.”
The researcher spread out a massive plan that covered the entire table in front of Harriet. It wasn’t just a simple drawing of dots and lines. The map was filled with complex strings of characters, detailing the nature and properties of each dimensional gate and their connections, including their isolation and utility, as well as connection strength.
It was a map of something that didn’t exist, yet this map had changed the course of human history.
Harriet suddenly had a question.
‘Another world... What exactly could ‘another world’ be?’
Lucinil wanted a soul. Could the answer to granting a soul to a soulless being lie in soul-binding magic?
Charlotte had been foremost in my mind when I first saw the books, but once I calmed down, I realized that soul-binding magic might also be necessary to grant Lucinil’s wish. However, all magic related to soul-binding had now left my hands.
Once the research was complete and a way to restore Charlotte’s condition was found, could I get the books on soul-binding magic back? If I wanted to, what excuse could I use?
While it didn’t feel like a rash decision, I hoped to help Lucinil in some way, given that Lucinil was assisting me.
I would soon need to share the information about the underground labyrinth of the Demon King’s Castle and the bunker with Lucinil and my collaborators and make a decision regarding Cantus Magna.
With these thoughts in mind, I returned to the Temple. Upon entering the Royal Class dormitory, I saw Ellen staring at me from the lobby.
“Oh, you’re back,” I said.
‘So she’s returned.’
“It’s you who’ve come back,” Ellen said with a little sulk. “Where did you go?”
“Uh...”
‘Another secret, perhaps,’ Ellen thought.
Ellen seemed resigned, as if she didn’t really expect an answer.
She knew well enough not to expect anything from me, and even asking required courage, though she had accepted that such courage was ultimately futile.
I wondered if I could tell her about it. While it might be a breach of Charlotte’s privacy, Ellen already knew I was helping Charlotte in some way because of what the emperor had said.
After looking around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, I whispered softly to Ellen, “It’s hard to explain in detail, but it’s related to what’s going on with Charlotte.”
“... Oh. Okay.”
Ellen seemed genuinely surprised that I had even given her that much of an answer, as if she hadn’t expected me to say anything at all.
“It wasn’t anything dangerous.”
“Yeah. Okay. Got it.”
Ellen looked up at me, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. “Thank you for... thank you for telling me...”
“...”
Seeing Ellen on the verge of tears, moved with emotion just because I had given her a hint, stirred something within me. It was strange how such a small gesture could mean so much.
I felt a surge of emotion and gave Ellen a brave look. “By the way, did you have a good trip home?”
“Oh, right.” Ellen suddenly inhaled sharply and grabbed my arm. “I have something to show you.”
“What? Hey, wait a minute—!”
“Hurry.”
Ellen dragged me off without any explanation.
***
A short while later, I found myself in Ellen’s room, staring blankly at the fiery cloak she was wearing.
“What is that?”
“Lapelt.”
‘Uh. Hmm. Isn’t that...?’
“They say it’s the Cloak of the Sun God.”
“Oh, right, that.”
My mind went blank.
“Why do you have it?”
“I brought it from home.”
‘Hmm, that sounds way too casual.’
“Why was it at your house?”
“I don’t know.”
‘I feel kind of dizzy.’
“Mom gave it to me because I might have to fight the Demon King.”
‘Too dizzy!’