GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 35.1: Solution

"Actually, I've come to see you, Konomi," Vel replied.

"Excuse me?" Celia appeared beside Konomi, her voice carrying a slight tone of jealousy. "You came specifically to see my roommate?"

Vel held up his notes. "I need an alchemist's expertise for this. Remember what we talked about in the library?"

Celia's expression softened slightly. "Oh, what is it about?"

"May I come in?" Vel asked, looking between them. "It's somewhat complicated to explain in the hallway."

Konomi stepped aside, gesturing to a small table near the window covered with alchemical notes and small glass containers. The room was divided neatly down the middle—Celia's side sparse and orderly with her rapier mounted on the wall, Konomi's half covered with books, diagrams, and experimental apparatus.

"Sorry about the mess," Konomi said, clearing a space among her papers.

Celia perched on the edge of her bed, watching curiously as Vel sat down and spread out his notes.

"Remember what I said about the identification spell?" Vel asked.

Konomi nodded, leaning forward to examine the diagrams.

"Turns out the artifacts used in the entrance test operate on a similar principle."

"So you went to the Artifex building," Konomi said, adjusting her glasses. "What did you find there?"

"This." Vel pointed at a complex magic circle on his parchment. "It's supposed to read someone's or something's nature. But there's one problem."

He traced the interconnected rings with his finger. "The artifact uses layered casting. Aside from reading, the spell also needs to present the results. Which means it also has to filter out what it can't show."

"That's a lot of work," Konomi murmured, studying the diagram more closely.

"That's where I need your help. I've come up with another approach."

Celia watched from her bed, curiosity evident despite her initial jealousy.

"What if I create a spell that simply reads and stores what it finds in... I don't know, an object? No need to display it to anyone. Just put it there."

Konomi tilted her head. "But then how would you know what it reveals?"

Vel paused. He couldn't tell her the truth—that his interface could likely interpret whatever magical signature got stored in the crystal. He needed a believable answer.

"I'd cast another spell. For translating."

Konomi's eyes lit up with understanding. "Ah. Instead of layering one complicated spell, you break it down into multiple steps of casting. Smart."

"So... can you help?"

"Hm..." Konomi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We're going to need something similar to the artifact. Some kind of crystal with magical qualities that can store what your spell reads. And it needs to be flexible enough for rewriting."