Chapter 517 — Pi Yun's Assistance

It was a creation of the Never-Sleepers, a variant of a magic array known as the "neural-interactive mental network connection array." The lord had found this complex and profound array in the Never-Sleepers' knowledge and ordered the Institute of Magic Technology to restore it using new technology.

The researchers were not deterred by the technology's origin—for anyone capable of working here at least knew the words "technology is not guilty"—but when they had finally constructed those complex, profound magical runes and built this chair, they found that the thing did not meet the lord's requirements.

"Perhaps we're missing some key element," the magic artisan who had tested the chair said after a stretch of silence. He had recovered some of his spirits, and his voice was steady and strong again. "I've heard the Never-Sleepers not only use wicked magic but also employ all manner of dreadful means to remake themselves—just like those fallen druids. I suspect this chair has similar requirements: an ordinary person sitting in it is useless; one must first undergo a certain 'remaking' of oneself, as the Never-Sleepers do."

A magic artisan standing beside him immediately shook his head: "That's hardly good news..."

Kamaier listened to the other researchers' discussion, yet could not help but sigh inwardly—

If only his nervous system were still intact, he might actually be able to feel where exactly this chair had gone wrong. But unfortunately, now he had not only no nervous system, but not even eyes or a complexion to speak of...

He shook his head and produced a humming voice: "Further discussion is of no help. Let us readjust the positions of the connection contacts and the state of the curved spinal bridges, and try once more."

The magic artisans immediately sprang into action, beginning to readjust the chair's settings, while a new test subject stepped forward, preparing to test it once the chair was restarted: with a legendary mage like Kamaier watching over them, there was no need to worry about danger to life, and going straight to human testing was the simplest and fastest approach.

This, too, counted as the "efficient mode" unique to a laboratory presided over by a transcendent power.

But just as the group of magic artisans was bustling to readjust the chair to its proper state, and Kamaier was about to order the test to begin, a voice suddenly came from the direction of the laboratory door, interrupting their work.

"Trying a few more times will make no difference—there's a key step that's wrong."

Kamaier raised his head and looked toward the source of the voice. He saw the stooped Pi Yun shuffling slowly into the laboratory. The little old man still wore his dusty gray druid robes, his hair and beard a tangled mess, and on his face was a smile that rather invited a punch.

Pi Yun's smile always seemed to invite a punch, whenever he smiled, so Kamaier decided to ignore the fellow's expression.

"A key step?" He looked at Pi Yun, who had already come up close. "And how is it you have time to come here?"

"I heard about your research project from Miss Rebecca earlier—she seemed to think I, as a druid, could be of help to you. And I think her idea has merit," Pi Yun chuckled twice, then circled once around the oddly shaped chair. "The Never-Sleepers' technique is a technique for establishing a connection between a magical construct and the human brain—note, the human brain, and a magical construct. You seem to have focused only on the magical construct part, but overlooked the subtle role of 'biological structure' in the process. You're missing the guidance of a professional druid..."

Kamaier gave a slight nod, his tone grave: "The institute's budget is fixed."

"...I hadn't even said anything about money!" Pi Yun's eyes went wide at once, then he eyed Kamaier sidelong. "By the way, you, a fellow who's been undying for a thousand years, have learned to crack jokes too?"

"I don't crack jokes. I merely stem the institute's financial bleeding," Kamaier said, his face all blue-green. "Your last visit to provide guidance directly cost us half a month's budget for one team. Of course, if you truly can help us, I wouldn't mind treating you to a meal as a private individual."

"...Forget it. Nobody who's eaten with you wants a second time. I'd be sitting there eating while you float beside me cycling through eighty-odd colors a minute—I couldn't stomach it," Pi Yun waved his hand, then pointed at the chair in the center of the laboratory. "There's nothing wrong with the design itself, but I'm afraid even the lord knows there's a technical detail in here—the part at the back used to connect the basic rune array is something called an artificial nerve cord. That can't be replaced with ordinary magic-conducting materials."

Kamaier's tone was full of curiosity: "Artificial nerve cord?"

"Something made by mixing biomass with magic-conducting metal. You could think of it as alive, though in truth it is closer to a magical puppet," Pi Yun said unhurriedly. "I am not certain I could build it, but I might give it a try."

Kamail studied Pi Yun's face, which seemed never capable of being serious: "...This is hardly knowledge an ordinary druid would possess, is it?"

Pi Yun smiled faintly. "Who knows? It just so happens that I am a naturalist."