A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 331 The First Step in Building the Tower

In other words, if the target of the Nine Rings [Enlightenment Technique] is not a construct like a puppet or a gargoyle, but a unit similar to a difference engine, then its autonomy will be further enhanced, possessing the ability to automate. It can command other computing units, eliminating the need for manual debugging and enabling massive parallel computations to be performed instantly.

But Rorschach wasn't a Muggle; he was more interested in necromancy-based spells.

The following drawings record the original version of the "iron can", which is both a container for the "soul" or "intelligence". Because it has loops inside and outside, it is responsible for the entry and exit of commands. To use a biological analogy, it is both the "skull" and the "spinal cord".

For Rorschach, if he wanted to create a Tower Spirit, a more pragmatic approach would be to create a relatively weak "intelligent core" and then use the valuable encapsulation technology that this gentleman had acquired with money to strengthen the weak core by piling on more non-magical computing units.

This offers better scalability and eliminates the need to learn ninth-ring spells or risk capturing dragons or other highly intelligent creatures to extract their brains.

If Rorschach were to use traditional methods to create a Tower Spirit comparable to the Tower of Stars, he would need to target the human, elf, and dwarf races today. Before committing the crime, he would also need to conduct an intelligence test to ensure that the raw materials meet the standards.

Each of the thirteen magic towers should have its own tower spirit, and the intelligence of the tower spirit reflects the depth of a mage tower's historical accumulation. For example, the highest-level towers of the garrison mages of the empire do not have tower spirits, and their construction methods cannot be found even in the empire's Royal Magic Academy.

We live in a harmonious society now, and everyone seems to have forgotten how to make this thing. The old folks are keeping the technology tightly under wraps. Rorschach closed his notebook and blueprints, and sighed deeply: "This shows that the thirteen magic towers have never been a benevolent family since ancient times."

Judging from the box protected by alchemy, the "inventor" and his team are firstly wealthy, and secondly, they have already mastered some alchemical techniques. Why would the mages and guilds of Istani tolerate ordinary people like them venturing into magical knowledge? Is it really all because of money?

However, in reality, this gentleman's grand ambitions were not realized. The towering machine showed no signs of operation. Whether it was the mages of Storm Tower who changed their minds or the money-powered individual who went bankrupt, Rorschach had no idea.

The boy searched through the memories of the ancient sage, but it seemed he wasn't interested in this stuff. The old man possessed unparalleled magical skills, handling all magic-related matters himself. Hiring an AI to serve him and guard his home was completely unnecessary for this wandering sage whose interest lay in raising children.

The best way to manufacture the disassembly machine and the general-purpose computing unit in the blueprints is to find watchmakers, who are the most skilled and precise craftsmen that Rorschach could find in this era.

"My mage tower definitely needs a tower spirit. Next, I need to design blueprints, find a construction team, and in order to make use of this great inventor's technology, I also need to find a trustworthy watchmaker." Rorschach made up his mind.

The machine, named "The Truth Machine," which was supposed to automatically solve all mathematical problems, did not actually operate in reality. However, for Rorschach, it had actually run successfully in the Shadowlands and could even simulate a squad of the Burning Lion Knights.

Of course, that was the result of the power of the Lord of Order. The seal was attached to this machine, and the Knight Squad was more like a personification of the seal.

"A very interesting application, worth learning from," Rorschach said, eager to plan his future base.

However, the first step in any endeavor is to raise funds and select a location.

Rorschach's stomach rumbled, realizing with a start that it was already past noon. He carefully stored the special box and its contents into his ring, and tidied up the rest.

He only left the house after Rorschach had sealed the entire house, from the first seal on the bedroom until the whole house was sealed. Given how he had smeared the entire room with blood yesterday, if someone had stumbled upon the scene of the tragedy, he would definitely have been mistaken for some kind of evil sorcerer.

"Future magic towers will also need areas where magic can be gathered, allowing one to cleanse their entire body with magic and experience the level of magic control at a higher level. A slightly excessive amount of magic input can stimulate the spellcaster's mind. Wow, so many benefits! Could I develop a magic bath specifically for mages?"

Lost in these thoughts, Rorschach walked to a factory near the city and bumped into Andrei, who was about to set off.

"Are you looking to see the transmutation dust extractor?"

"Um," Rorschach replied, "Actually, I went to ask Mr. Hassai for money." Instead of answering, he asked, "Where are you going?"

"I need to report to Master Bat's resident mage tower tomorrow, so I have to go back today." Andrei was a meticulous and punctual person, unlike his teacher and boss.

"That's perfect, I'll go with you." Finding a qualified watchmaker is not enough in a small town like Lanster. The highest consumer group here is just the working class, who can't afford any fine watches. It would be more worthwhile to go to cities like Bart or Munich, where there are many wealthy merchants and nobles.

Incidentally, he needs permission from the local lord before he can clear land to build the tower.

If Rorschach wanted to go deep into the mountains and build the mage tower as far away from the Muggles as possible, he certainly wouldn't need to inform the lord. But he didn't want to be a reclusive shut-in. Instead, he needed a large place, far from the city but not far away, and he wanted to build more than just a tower.

To minimize resistance, one should find a good brother and send him to whisper in his ear, through Bart to his wife, and then have the princess speak to the king or her brother.

So Andrei's rented carriage had an extra passenger.

Even during holidays, the apprentice monk was busy running around. The train journey was a rare moment of rest. He took out the food basket that his mother had stuffed into his hand and said shyly, "I'm sorry, Professor Luo Xia, my mother insisted on preparing food for me to eat on the road. It might have a smell, I hope you don't mind."

"No, no, I'll teach you a spell called 'Air Filter Bubble'." Rorschach realized it had been a long time since he had taught this student magic, so he prepared to take out paper and pen and give a lesson on the spot.

Andrei had already taken two bright red fruits out of the basket, followed by a still-warm, sizzling pie.

"It's a whole pie!" Andrei was even more embarrassed. "Does Mom think I'm some kind of farmer going to the fields? How can I eat if I don't do physical labor? Besides, I've already eaten lunch."

The pie's crust was baked to perfection, golden and crispy, and as the carriage jolted, the cracks in the crust released the savory aroma of the meat filling.

goo—

Suddenly, a rumbling sound came from the stomach in the carriage.

Andrei was quite certain that the sound was not his own.

"Oh dear, I forgot I haven't eaten yet!" It wasn't that Luo Xia was so forgetful of food and sleep, but rather that his sleep schedule and bodily awareness were still somewhat disordered at this moment.

Andrei felt like he had been granted a pardon and quickly handed the food basket to Rorschach: "Please, teacher, try my mother's cooking."

"Thank you, I'm so sorry," Rorschach said politely, immediately taking the basket from his hands. It was filled with fruits, vegetables, staple foods, and sausages; some of the food was wrapped in newspaper, and Rorschach could see bold lettering on it: "Valois declares a state of emergency. King Charles XVI."

(End of this chapter)