"Thanks for the help, Shrine Guardian Reisen. I'll personally apologize to Lady Ei when this is over," Kamisato Mizuki said, rushing off with the letter.
He had a lot on his plate. Deploying Endgame Squad forces abroad to hunt a rogue ninja wasn't simple. The Squad maintained the shrine system's underbelly and monitored Inazuma's troublemakers. Pulling senior operatives strained daily operations, requiring meticulous manpower adjustments.
With no further tasks, Reisen Riou flashed back to Ritou via Glimmer Technique.
He aimed to restart Momentary Bubble Shadow research. He didn't need a powerful clone—just one to handle Ritou's daily affairs. The journal's partial data was enough.
Ritou Shrine's expanding business—monopolizing Ritou's funeral services and festivals, like the recent Narukami Festival branch event—squeezed his time. Previously, the Magistrate's Office botched festivals, clueless about rituals. Ritou Shrine's professional takeover made the last one a success, bringing Narukami's radiance to Ritou, a remote Narukami Island outlier.
He needed a clone, or he'd have to hire an assistant.
The journal's Momentary Bubble Shadow data, though flawed, had solid core ideas and analyses worth studying.
The technique's early stage focused on creating sub-minds tied to the user's core consciousness, controlling temporary clones. Ninja clones—prop-made dummies or elemental illusions—used unstable sub-minds, good for short-term use.
For a lasting clone, the first hurdle was cultivating stable sub-minds. Teyvat's unique environment helped. Raiden Ei, when asked, explained that wholehearted forging could craft a "brain" imbued with a complete sub-mind, mirroring the user's memories and thoughts.
But she hadn't considered making sub-minds logically consistent or loyal long-term, assuming she'd never betray herself.
Reisen Riou disagreed. A clone identical to him would hate grunt work as much as he did, likely rebelling.
Another forging method—thoughtless forging—created blank sub-minds. He'd build on that.
As a phone Tsukumogami, he wasn't a programming expert but knew enough. Years of math and binary coding were no issue. Past-life AI hype meant he understood artificial intelligence basics.
He planned to program sub-minds into rigid, AI-like systems, boosting resilience and efficiency. Too rigid, though, and it'd be an "artificial idiot."
…
Lying on his beloved lounge chair, Reisen Riou coded in his mind-space, testing programs in a simulator for bugs.
Reisen Anko, seeing him slacking, sensed he was researching. She glanced curiously, then returned to archery practice.
Her archery soared with One System's 4x experience boost, hitting Archery LV5 (9.8/10). A few weeks, and she'd reach LV6.
Watching her proficiency jump fueled her zeal for training and learning.
"Great Shrine Guardian," she called, a title only she used at the shrine.
"?" Reisen Riou perked up.
"Can you make the One System track me? Carrying it everywhere's a hassle," Anko said.
"Not too hard. Just add a tracking program and external mobility device," he replied.
Watching her leave, he scratched his chin. "Why's that so familiar? Electronic pet?"
"No big deal. Geo-reinforced One System units are sturdy. But should I set up an automated production line? Hand-crafting and assembling's a pain."
He shook his head. Teyvat's godless Khaenri'ah had chip-like tech, but nothing met his needs.
"Guess I'm stuck with the labor. Shells and mobility limbs can use alchemy, though. I'll design them, toss them in the database—users can craft their own."
The mobility system could sync directly with the One System.
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