101

Countdown to Celestial System Update: 42 hours and 11 minutes

Squeak——

A flash of light suddenly lit up, and the man sitting cross-legged on the bed, biting the cigarette, grabbed the coat draped across his lap and slung it over his shoulders. He immediately went to work, his fingertips operating on the panel, circling a few marks in the constantly flowing data.

Smoke mixed with a light mint scent spread, and behind him came the sound of fabric rubbing against each other. The man followed the scent and turned, his eyes landing on the girl's back. "Why are you smoking too?"

"Decompress."

Without turning back, the cigarette butt moved slightly between his lips, his voice muffled. His eyes remained fixed on the screen, rows of data rapidly passing before his eyes. His fingertips repeatedly tapped on key parameters, leaving behind pale blue markings.

"?" The man came closer, pressed his chest against her back, put his arms around her waist from both sides, and rubbed his chin against the top of her head.

"Six eyes aren't enough to relieve your stress? Are you so stressed?"

Of course, more happiness is better.

Hearing this, the girl picked up the cigarette butt and blew out a circle of white smoke as she turned her head. In the hazy smoke, her eyes swept over casually.

"Want to work for me for free?"

"Okay, there's something I need you to do."

It has to be him?

The hand around her waist loosened, and Gojo Satoru looked at her profile which was focused on the light screen, not quite understanding the meaning of this sentence.

"Tell me about it."

Since it was his wife who asked, he was happy to do it!

"Hmm..." He held the cigarette butt in his mouth, his knuckles resting against his chin as he pondered for a moment. The theoretical model floating before him continued to flicker, its dense matrix of formulas making him dizzy.

She had to think about how to put it into a few sentences that he could understand.

With a flick of her fingertips, the ash fell to the ground, and then she answered him, "When I'm not in the simulation, you are responsible for the output of the domain's magic power."

Huh? What's this? Domain transfer?

Gojo Satoru almost suspected he'd misheard. This simulated universe, capable of accommodating the movement of stars and forming its own rules, was actually just the domain of one person? This realization astonished him.

"A domain... can someone else maintain it?" After the shock, confusion quickly followed. He subconsciously began to analyze and deconstruct this unheard-of possibility. Where in the world of sorcery was there such a precedent? A domain had always been an extension of the sorcerer, so how could it be transferred to someone else?

"Just because there was no precedent before doesn't mean it's impossible now." As he exhaled smoke, the indifference and arrogance unique to geniuses were clearly visible.

"As long as the theory is self-consistent and there are no contradictions, it's worth trying. Nothing is absolutely impossible."

If the theory works, then it's 100%.

"Where are you going?" Gojo Satoru suddenly grasped the key point. Even something as core as the domain was being handed over to him. What was Hipper going to do? Was he going to say goodbye to him?

"Where to..." Well, let her think about how to lie to Gojo Satoru. She can't just tell him directly that she just saved her life and then turns around to seek death, right?

"Go arrest someone."

"A..." She chose her words carefully, "well, a lunatic."

More than just a madman. If she was right, it was actually... a god. A mad god, an evil god, who had lost his mind.

It was just such an existence, hiding in her dreams and haunting her for more than ten years, and she thought it was ridiculous.

Even the original celestial body still has some distance to become a god, this love-sick person actually became a god, what a waste of God's gift.

If I become a god, the first thing I will do is to get rid of my love-struck brain.

"Okay, time to do the experiment." She stubbed out her cigarette, and the sparks flew onto the floor, disappearing in an instant. She pushed the man behind her away, got out of bed, and adjusted her buttons.

"Come here, I'll teach you something useful."

The girl crossed her arms over her chest, looking down at Gojo Satoru on the bed with a condescending gaze, her eyes slightly raised, her brows cold. The arrogance woven into her bones, the kind of dominance only possessed by those at the pinnacle of intelligence, was now fully revealed in Hipper.

She's super touching.

"After all, you're also a privileged person, so shouldn't you learn from me?"

She leaned forward and teased Gojo Satoru, "How about calling me Mr. Hipper first?"

His attitude is arrogant and reserved, and beneath his coldness lies a sense of ostentation.

Yes, this is the expression, I really want to take a picture of it.

"Hippo——Teacher~"

The ending tone was drawn out, this kind of coquettish tone was her favorite. She could clearly see Hipper pursing her lips, trying to suppress the uncontrollable upward curl of her mouth.

So easy to coax.

"Even if you call me teacher, don't expect me to show mercy when I teach you."

Sharp tongue but a soft heart, so arrogant.

He put on his clothes slowly and walked briskly behind Hipper towards the studio.

*

"A sorcerer's spell power is never infinite. I know you're powerful, but you also understand that my domain, since it contains the word 'universe', is not a gimmick, but a literal scope."

The two of them sat cross-legged facing each other at some distance. Hipper adjusted his sitting posture and officially began to teach Gojo Satoru and answer his questions.

"Well, I guess I understand." Gojo Satoru tapped the armrest with his fingertips and suddenly understood. The larger the area covered by the domain, the more cursed energy it consumed.

He thought about the places he had been to during this period of time... To encompass the cosmic space, this kind of consumption is simply not something that human magical power can sustain.

So how did Schipper do it? Speaking of which, it's mainly about using data here, right?

“So, the key is to use data.”

Guessed it right.

With his palms spread out upwards, a dark blue data stream instantly appeared in the void, flickering like stars.

"Converting this data into mana can help you reduce the burden of mana consumption. Once you become proficient, you won't have to rely on your own mana output."

Data conversion or data construction, which was more difficult? Gojo Satoru thought back to the days when he had been exploring alone. Just thinking back to those complicated logical chains made his solar plexus ache.

Tsk, that really hurts, even the reversal technique is useless.

"Have you... been exposed to data?" Seeing that his face was not looking good, the girl moved closer to observe, a little uncertain.

"You taught yourself?" Before he could respond, she sighed again, her eyes complicated. "That must have been painful, right?"

There was even some genuine surprise in Hipper's eyes - for someone who has never been exposed to the data field, rashly learning on their own is like playing with their life.

Being bombarded with knowledge far beyond the norm can have disastrous consequences for an unprepared brain: in severe cases, it may directly cause intracranial damage and explosion; in milder cases... well, it may also cause confusion in consciousness and turn one into a fool who cannot even understand basic logic.

Gojo Satoru is still alive and has not become a fool. He is lucky.

"Data conversion is not difficult. Once you find the right feeling, you've basically learned it." As she spoke, she bent her fingertips and tapped his forehead, her tone becoming more serious.

"But—you have to master it before the system update is finished. I have to deal with other things, so you have to stay at home during this time."

Watch the house!

Gojo Satoru didn't take the rest of the words to heart; only those two words filled his mind. His eyes lit up instantly, and he even sat up straighter subconsciously.

What's with that expression? Do you really think you're a guard dog?

"...Did you hear that? Can you be more serious?" Seeing that he obviously didn't hear the key point, Hipper got a headache.

Are you even listening? You look like a dog waiting to be assigned a task. Can you be more powerful?

How slow! How unaware is Hipper! She just said the word "home"! The key word is "home"!

In this simulated universe, he is the only male. So, doesn't this mean that he is the male owner? The male owner!

The two of them...are not on the same wavelength at all.

Each holding his own opinion, the stalemate in the air didn't last long. Hipper lost his patience first and slapped him on the face, "Seriously! What on earth are you thinking about!"

——This teacher is too irritable.

He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, and signaled with his eyes that the class should continue without any more sophistry.

"I'll demonstrate it to you, and then..." She paused, a look of confusion evident on her face, but she didn't explain why. She simply added stiffly, "Lend me your body for a moment."

"Yes, yes..."

What does "borrow your body" mean? Is there something you can't discuss?

But Hipper had no intention of answering his question at all. He avoided the topic and directly started demonstrating the data conversion process.

After the dynamic data stream unfolded and dissipated before him, Hipper continued, "Maximize data utilization. If you can reach 70%, you'll pass."

He waved his hand to disperse the remaining data points, signaling Gojo Satoru to give it a try. Finally, he remembered something and put some pressure on him.

"We need to get it above 97% before the system update is finished. Come on!"

Arrange Gojo Satoru properly - he won't bother you for at least the next five hours. Even if you learn quickly, it will still take four hours, which is long enough for you to handle many things.

It's time to mix the potion.

Well...if I use the special blood sugar supplement medicine for experiments, the remaining amount will not be enough for my subsequent use.

Forget it, just drink it sparingly.

He put on a lab coat constructed using data and goggles. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Gojo Satoru standing motionless beside him, and casually warned him to pay attention.

He responded casually, sounding perfunctory, but his eyes never left you, as if he wanted to memorize both how you looked in your lab coat right now, and how you looked in different outfits all the time.

“…”

What's wrong with this guy... Did he put all his skill points into flirting when he was resurrected? I don't see him being so focused on other things. Can't he be a little more serious?

Tsk, wait until she finishes the basic experiments. If Gojo Satoru hasn't learned it yet, don't blame her for slapping him in the face.

Ignoring him, I turned and walked to the refrigerator, took out two bottles of sugar supplements and put them in my pocket, then pushed open the door of the adjacent laboratory and walked in.

This lab hadn't been used for a while. A quick wipe revealed a pristine dust-free surface. The desk and instruments were neatly tidied, suggesting the Primordial Body cleaned it daily.

What a hardworking AI.

"Let's try the rejection reaction first." He stared at the distorted mutant blood in the container, stroked the wall of the tube and began to ponder.

She wasn't sure about using this thing as the main ingredient for the potion, but she just wanted to give it a try - to see if this unconventional method of "fighting poison with poison" would actually work.

"You are really your mother's good children." Hipper praised sincerely while tapping the glass bottle containing the sugar supplement.

It could quench thirst, replenish sugar, and now it could also serve as a rare experimental material, putting it to great use. What was rare was that these raw materials seemed to never run out, their inexhaustible supply—this was what she admired most.

The characteristic of distortion is that it indiscriminately contaminates all substances, especially those that are full of vitality. The impact is magnified exponentially and can almost erode their origin in a short period of time.

However, the essence of cursed power is the condensation of negative emotions. It has nothing to do with "vitality" from beginning to end. It is more like a ball of pure neutral energy.

If I mix cursed energy with this distorted mutant...it would be an interesting combination.

Give it a try. The worst possible outcome is an experimental explosion. As for distortion and contamination, it won't have much impact on her. At most, it will make her a little excited.

*

Boom——

When the test tube exploded, Hipper evacuated the laboratory just a second before the explosion, taking out the remaining experimental materials. He took off his goggles and straightened his messy hair, feeling slightly dissatisfied with the progress.

"Tsk, it really exploded?" I quickly reviewed the situation in my mind: Was I using too much cursed energy just now, or was I not controlling the dosage of the distortion mutant properly? Whatever the case, I had to try again.

He picked up his goggles again and was about to walk towards the laboratory when his wrist was grabbed by Gojo Satoru.

"Clang clang—look!" The man excitedly stretched out his hands for her to check: his left hand steadily output data stream, and his right hand simultaneously converted the spell power. As the two were integrated, the utilization rate had reached 79%.

Is time passing so quickly?

Looking at the time, only four hours have passed. Not only have I learned how to convert data, but I've also increased the utilization rate to 79%...

He has some talent and is a promising person.

She suppressed her surprise and said with more certainty, "Great, keep it up." After saying that, she broke free from his hand and went back into the laboratory.

"The experiment is dangerous, don't come in."

Hipper's head suddenly popped out from the crack of the laboratory door, his eyes giving clear warnings and detailed instructions.

"Just be quiet."

"Uh-huh."

I was indeed curious about what was going on inside, but I didn't really plan to go in.

Hearing Hipper's warning, Gojo Satoru responded readily, but in his heart he was complaining: his wife knows him too well, and she can't hide any of his little thoughts from him. This feeling of being seen through is really sweet and a little distressing.

Too smart, it's funny.