NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 57
“I… I haven’t really had proper tea for a while…. Everything I’ve been drinking feels pointless today…”
[A drawing of tea with two flowers floating]
┗ Marco: Isn’t it just ordinary tea made by a doll? Why the sudden chaos?
┗ Isamael: Believe me, it tastes different. The depth of flavor is unmatched.
┗ Marco: Did they use some special tea leaves or something?
┗ Isamael: Well, once you check the info board, you’ll understand, Mr. Marco.
┗ Marco: I just got here and haven’t seen it yet. What’s up there?
┗ Isamael: Just take a look at Ebron’s “How to Brew Perfect Tea.”
The information and knowledge conveyed through the dolls flow into the brain via the spine extending from the Shadow Tree. Information keeps accumulating in there.
The stars floating above the Shadow Tree check these bits of information and digest what they like. Through that, they grow into better beings.
It was a truly beautiful structure. So mesmerizing that sometimes I found myself just staring.
After the doll was completed, I ran many experiments. While the results were perfect, the process diverged considerably from my expectations.
I needed to pinpoint exactly where the change had occurred. Results based on chance could not be counted as my achievements.
Only by systematizing it and turning it into my knowledge could I truly say I had accomplished something. With that thought, I continued my research and eventually discovered why the doll had not developed a sense of self.
The brain of the Wraith Tree was already a dead entity. Since the traces of life that once existed there remained strong, attempts to ignite a new self within it were destined to fail.
If it had been any other part, such resistance wouldn’t have happened. The influence must have been incredibly subtle.
However, this brain had existed for a long time as the core of the Wraith Tree. Therefore, the traces contained within were very intense—so much so that my constructed self couldn’t even dare to invade.
Is this the power of expensive materials? I smirked when I first learned that truth.
When creating dolls with ordinary monsters, the magic and life were weak, so there was no backlash at all. Hence, I had never considered such variables.
This accident occurred because it was my first time handling such items. I simply had to take this experience into account and be more careful next time.
Gazing at the sphere before me, I swallowed my disappointment. Unlike the other Shadow Dolls, it lacked a sense of self. So, it couldn’t evolve at all, only weaving stars to absorb information. Quite unfortunate.
However, it was precisely because of that that it produced more special results than I had anticipated.
It happened after escaping the thirteenth lecture.
This treasure hunt took place in a very peculiar location. The sky was full of stars, and the ground was merely filled with rocks.
There, both magic and bodies felt light. With just a little push, leaping could send one soaring over five meters.
The treasure prepared by the Professor was an old suit of armor. She said it fell from outer space.
Its function was also quite bizarre. She mentioned that when worn, it could allow one to glimpse the memories of its previous owner—memories left by an alien being.
People excitedly roamed that location, and, unsurprisingly, everyone was eliminated. I was no exception.
As I stumbled out of the infirmary, clutching my dizzy head, an astonishing sight unfolded. The Shadow Dolls left behind in the tower were all moving just fine.
They could think naturally because they were connected to me and the Shadow Tree. Without any connection, that immature self alone wouldn’t even be able to balance itself properly.
So, whenever I went to lectures or left somewhere, they became almost like ordinary dolls—barely executing simple commands. I thought it would be the same this time too.
But surprisingly, they were moving just fine. A bit awkwardly compared to usual, but still acting on their own.
I was surprised and examined them closely, quickly realizing the reason.
The dolls were connected to the brain. The precious item I had carefully stored in the workshop, far too dear to take to class.
In my absence, they had fortressed the connection with the spinal cord extended from the brain to maintain themselves. The flow had even burrowed deep into the brain.
I gently patted the sphere before me.
“I truly never expected this kind of situation.”
If it had possessed a self, this wouldn’t have been possible. It would have wanted to exist independently just like the other Shadow Dolls.
Instead, lacking a self allowed it to form such a profound connection. It was kind of taking over a part of the role held by the Shadow Tree.
To commemorate this, I named it “Fake Tree.” I then encouraged other dolls to undergo the same process.
By doing so, even if I wasn’t around, the Shadow Dolls would surely continue to function. Though their performance might be below par, it would still be operational.
And, thanks to creating this connection, I could finally add this function. I left the sphere unattended and walked to the table. There, a teapot prepared by Unit 0 was waiting.
Taking a deep breath, I cleared my mind. Soon, my thoughts settled completely. The preparation was done, and it was time to begin.
The Mirror Bug rose into the air, absorbing my magic. Instead of displaying a bulletin board screen, it completely reflected my image.
As I saw the magic swirling around, I bowed my head deeply.
“Hello, I am Ebron, responsible for managing the tower. Today, I would like to explain the magic of ‘Perfect Tea.'”
Using the teapot, I quickly cast the spell. As I poured it into the teacup, a few petals bloomed within.
I lifted it up and savored the aroma. A beautifully clean tea fragrance wafted past my nose.
“This is the ‘Perfect Tea’ magic used by dolls. It’s also the magic I posted on the info board. The tea you usually drink is made with this simple magic. However,”
I poured the tea into the air. The brewed liquid oxidized and vanished in the magic.
Watching that unfold, I slowly began to speak.
“This alone cannot be called perfect tea. Simply having magic isn’t enough to brew a clean cup. Now, I will show you how to make the real ‘Perfect Tea.'”
About thirty minutes passed, and I successfully completed my demonstration of ‘Perfect Tea.’
Now, I had to check if everything had gone well. I summoned the Mirror Bug. It floated before me, starting to reflect my image.
That wasn’t the current me. The me contained within waved at the mirror and slowly began to enjoy tea. Every action I had just made was captured within it.
Satisfaction swelled in my chest. Finally, I achieved success.
Previously, I was inspired by seeing the Professor observing the tower through her mirror.
The Professor’s mirror reflected every situation precisely. The vivid expressions of people, the movement of magic, the surrounding atmosphere. It contained things that could not simply be understood through words and pictures.
No matter how much you express in writing or how many drawings you compile, you could never surpass the amount of information and experiences captured in a 10-second video.
For that reason, I’ve always wanted to preserve such videos within the Shadow Tree. They would surely enrich the selves I created.
But until now, I had never imagined adding this function. Simply put, the storage space was insufficient. It was tough enough to hold writings or pictures; how could I possibly add more information than that?
But the brain of the Wraith Tree solved such issues. There was now enough storage space secured for video capture.
So, the moment that storage became available, I filmed a video to see if I could properly present it on the bulletin board.
The result was very different from what I imagined. The video kept breaking and looked rather shabby. The information contained was rather pitiful. The connection between the stars was very weak.
As I was about to give up, I learned how to build such a strong connection at the end of the last lecture. And within that, the video appeared almost normally.
I posted the video I captured on the info board. It was a lecture on how to use ‘Perfect Tea’ magic. Then, I wrote up a notice.
— Ebron: The function to upload videos has been added. You can film desired videos through the Mirror Bug, so please enjoy using it!
I also uploaded a simple example video on the info board, so please check it out!
┗ Kashian: A video?
┗ Jun: Oh, this is a fun feature!
┗ Isamael: The way you’re pouring tea looks really nice!
The reactions were quite significant. After that, many videos began to appear on the bulletin board.
— Kashian: Our Bear Doll is cute, right? Day 127.
[Video of Bear Doll rolling]
[Video of Bear Doll rending the air with its claws]
So cute, right?
┗ Hao: I get the feeling I’ll lose if I fight it.
┗ Luka: Yeah, you probably will. They say this Bear Doll has over ten thousand points.
┗ Hao: Seriously? Is it insane?
┗ Kashian: Huh?
┗ Hao: No. I meant it’s crazily cute.
— Goro: Another monster defeated today. Quite a tough opponent.
[Video of a muscular man fighting a snake]
Relax, everyone. I’ve paved this path.
┗ Omon: Oh, cool, mister.
┗ Goro: Hehe, really?
┗ Omon: Weak compared to me, though.
┗ Goro: Seems like you’re still hung up on that defeat. Come to the central hall on the second floor.
┗ Omon: No way, I won last time. Who was it that was crying after breaking their sword?
And so, a month passed. The videos began to incorporate many details, adding depth to the Shadow Tree.
Watching that scene, I slowly rubbed my face.
The world created by the Shadow Tree had nearly reached perfection. It would continue to expand, and one day the stars within would reach completion.
My heart felt like the tree was swelling. It was absorbing the magic of the Shadow Tree and gaining its strength. Previously, I hadn’t dared try it, fearing it would harm the Shadow Tree.
But now everything was on track. I could only move toward completion. My tree, having accumulated sufficient power, grew a bit larger. Along with that, I felt my magic becoming slightly stronger.
At that moment, suddenly, the space before me split, and a piece of paper fell down. It happened in the blink of an eye. I slowly picked it up.
Was this from the Professor? With that thought, I began to read the paper. But it wasn’t.
The contents contained within went beyond my imagination.
“This is….”
I gasped wide-eyed.
It was said that it took an average of 5 years to move from the first floor to the second floor.
Since coming to the University, I had never once thought of myself as exceptional. Therefore, reaching the second floor was never a possibility for me. Advancement felt like something incredibly distant.
Yet the content in the paper was telling me otherwise. My heart began to race.
[Promotion Examination Notice]
It stated that next month, I was requested to come to the city for the promotion examination. It had only been four years since I entered the university.