I thought about how to explain it to Hikari.
Well... elemental stones are a double-edged sword. They can be useful, but they can also be useless. In fact, improper use can lead to serious accidents.
Its primary production environment is a pile of fragmented crystals nurtured over a long period of time by a single element. It is usually used to meet the specific elemental environment requirements for spellcasting, or to purify and extract elements. When using it, simply activate it and throw it out. The resulting effect depends on the amount of magic power input and the proportion and purity of the contained elements.
As for using elemental stones in daily life... it's not like no one has tried before, but without a strong enough magical control, it would be an unstable disaster. Of course, even if the control is strong enough, it's hard to say which is the better option in terms of the effort required compared to multitasking.
To paraphrase a textbook annotation: moderation is occasional, excess is the norm.
If you don't want to be overwhelmed by overly active elements, it's best to be honest and take things one step at a time.
"I see……"
Hikari nodded as if she had just realized something, but it was unclear whether she had actually understood.
She stirred the gradually boiling broth with a serious expression, then suddenly asked, "So, what would happen if we collected all types of elemental stones, put them in a container, and then activated them all at the same time?"
It's hard to imagine what kind of thought process came up with this question; maybe this little idiot's brain was also stirred up in the soup pot.
However, there have been precedents for this.
I held up three fingers: "Assuming we don't consider the activation delay of the elemental stones, and further assuming that the amount of each element released is basically the same, then there will be three possible outcomes."
"Firstly, the first scenario is that when the elements are unbalanced or there is a deviation in control, the result will be an explosion."
"Then, the second type is when the elements are in overall balance and perfectly evenly controlled. When an additional force is applied from the outside, it can drive the elements to rotate on their own, forming a small cycle. This is also a prerequisite for constructing a sandbox."
"Finally, the third type is where the elements are unbalanced overall, but by perfectly controlling and suppressing their tendency to burst outwards, they will eventually fall into silence and merge, eventually forming a small area that is similar in essence to this world, but with a higher and more active overall elemental concentration. Until finally, the spirituality dissipates, all the strangeness fades away, and no one can detect any special elemental attribute active within it anymore."
I retracted my fingers and patted the little idiot's head: "In other words, the reason why mages can freely use elements to cast spells is because elements are inherently present around us, and our powerful magical control helps us extract them from their dormant state and reverse them back to their original active state."
"The elemental stones used are merely triggering mediums, like the catalysts occasionally needed in alchemy. They indirectly stimulate and reduce the need for control, rather than replacing it."
"Ugh...I don't understand..."
Hikari, already confused, sobbed softly, lowering her head in grievance like a scolded little animal.
"It's not necessary to fully understand it; just know it and be able to use it. Comprehension comes last."
I offered her a few more words of comfort, which helped her cheer up.
However, speaking of these three outcomes, I am reminded of something else.
The foundation for constructing a sandbox, although it artificially creates a second outcome within a pre-defined set of virtual coordinates, can easily veer towards the first outcome if there's a slight deviation in shaping the outer shell. Furthermore, once the basic framework is built, the loosened control of the elements will cause them to mix on their own, like surging tides, leading to a state of active quiescence that is undoubtedly the third outcome. It's no wonder that academic circles often engage in pointless debates such as "the world itself originated from the aggregation and dispersion of elements."
The meal was prepared quickly, and Shen Xue, who had been patrolling nearby and confirmed it was safe, was called back. The three of them then gathered together for dinner.
Hikari's cooking skills are indeed quite good. Even with ingredients sourced from the forest, she can still make them fresh, juicy, and delicious, with an excellent texture. However, compared to the meals she received from the white fox a few days ago, or the food she ate while nestled in the miniature garden, it always feels a bit lacking.
“Mr. Yumi, I have a feeling that you are thinking something very rude.”
Hikari gave my calf a light kick, bringing me back to reality: "Although my skills aren't quite up to par with Yao-jie's puppet maids yet, one day I'll be better than all of them combined!"
The maid that housekeeper summons is a professional-level one, you little fool! Not only are they skilled in housework, but they're also said to be formidable fighters. If Hikari wants to surpass them, she'll have to dedicate several years to a specific direction just to barely catch up.
But there's really nothing to say about such discouraging remarks, so I just smiled and ate most of my food.
Well, Hikari happily ate most of the remaining half; that silly girl's happiness was so simple. On the other side, Miyuki, whether it was because she didn't like the taste or something else, after initially drinking a small bowl of hot soup and eating one less leg of meat, held the bowl and stared blankly at the road stretching into the distance, as well as the flickering firelight and figures in the distance.
Not far away, the caravan gathered, roasting some of the hunted monsters—judging from their appearance, they were probably horned sheep. Dripping oil splattered on the fire, and an enticing aroma wafted upwind, occasionally punctuated by bursts of cheerful laughter and jeering songs.
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