Reisen Riou held a dodecahedral personal terminal, fist-sized. Pressing the start key, its patterns glowed brilliant blue as Ley Line energy and ambient elemental power surged in.
"Test Personal Terminal Version 3.2 initializing…"
"Running self-diagnostic…"
A burnt smell hit. The backup system forced a shutdown, though the start key kept trying to reboot.
Reisen Riou sighed, switched off the key, and disassembled the terminal into parts.
"Hand-crafted chips can't ensure stable quality," he muttered, swapping out damaged chips. "Precision work has a lousy yield rate. Even verified chips can fail during operation."
"Elemental erosion's the real issue."
A thought struck. Hesitantly, he infused Geo elemental power into a chip—not to resonate or destroy, but to reinforce its structure.
Tiny crystalline reactions formed—Geo clashing with other elements. Relieved, he noted these crystals prevented destructive reactions. A fan to blow away the micro-crystals would suffice.
Drawing from past-life tank armor, he used crystallization to counter erosion.
Geo replenishment was simple: an elemental filter between Ley Line energy and the chip would maintain Geo levels.
He adjusted the structure for crystal cleanup, tweaked the casing for debris expulsion, and reassembled.
The restarted terminal was noisier, with a steampunk vibe, shedding dust.
"Energy use up 32%, but erosion's nearly gone. Acceptable."
"Crystals can revert to elements with Light Realm Force and Ley Lines… what's Light Realm Force again?"
"For now, this works. Switch to Ley Line power to cut noise and dust, add soundproofing and a dust collector, anti-crystal interference…" He resumed testing.
"Test Personal Terminal Version 3.3 initializing…"
"Running self-diagnostic…"
"Self-diagnostic complete…"
"Operating at 30% power. Database detection failed…"
"Detected humanoid. Initiate contract?"
"Yes."
"Contract failed. Data transmission failed. Execute within server range."
Hanamizaka was empty—everyone followed Narukami's procession—so no one disturbed his tests.
A signal tester appeared in his hand. The terminal received signals across Hanamizaka.
"Terminal's done. Signal's solid."
"Now for a badass name."
"Heh, One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines. One empowers thousands. The server? Wisdom of the Ten Thousand as One."
…
Reisen Riou joined the remaining Narukami Festival days.
When the Grand Narukami Shrine announced the festival's end, he ran into Reisen Anko, as expected.
Oddly, she showed no interest in settling scores.
He wasn't one to tempt fate. Storing the One System prototype in his Vision, he, Anko, and the junior mikos sailed back.
Why not fly? Boats were comfy. Flying was fast but tiring. Why pass up a free ride?
…
The samurai family loyal to Reisen Riou was the Kawakawa clan. Lacking culture, their naming was blunt: the head was Kawakawa Tarou, his heir Kawakawa Kotarou, second son Kozirou, third Kosaburou.
Per Reisen Riou's intel, Tarou's father and grandfather were also Kawakawa Tarou, called Kotarou before inheriting.
A name spanning three generations—death didn't erase it. Common among rural samurai clans, it wasn't unique. Names were vital; in a village of hundreds of Tarous, a clan name set you apart.
It simplified things for lords and clans alike. Tarou or Ippu meant the boss; "Ko" marked juniors. No etiquette fumbles.
Kneeling before Reisen Riou were Kawakawa Tarou (forty-ish), Kozirou (thirty-ish), and Kotarou (twenty-ish).
"You want us to be test subjects, my lord?" Tarou asked.
"Relax, it's safe," Reisen Riou said, pulling the One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines from his Vision.
They were in Kawakawa Town, near Ritou Shrine, within server range.
"This is the One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines, my invention. It accelerates learning and skill mastery, up to my current limits."
"Yes!" The Kawakawa men, skeptical but loyal, couldn't refuse.
Kotarou stepped up for the test.
Reisen Riou nodded, guiding him. "First, press the power button here."
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