kscans

Chapter 172 - Episode 8: Part 2, The Magic Barcode

"Well now, what should we do next, I wonder?"

"When Vinder is involved, things seize up, you know. Because this alone has produced astounding results, we need to proceed cautiously..."

While I was busy with nutritional observations, the magic team began their discussion.

"Yes, let's proceed with caution. First, let's measure multiple Magic Crystals and solidify these results."

Maytyl said. As expected of an expert, no matter how much it was expected, a single result could just be a coincidence. I wish she'd apply that same caution to her own body, though.

Many Magic Crystals were brought in and measured using the same procedure. Since the Magic-sensing Paper's height could be adjusted with a rod on the optical path stand, the results lined up vertically on a single sheet of paper.

Maytyl, who had switched places with Noel midway, had sweat on her forehead, and it worried me.

"They're the same, aren't they?"

Three bands lined up on the Magic-sensing Paper. While the intensity of the bands differed depending on the capacity, the pattern was identical. We could consider this to be the normal Magic Spectrum of a Magic Crystal. However...

"What about this fourth one that just appeared?"

I asked. The positional pattern looked the same, but the intensity pattern was different. The middle band was not as dark.

"That's a Magic Crystal that's almost empty. Looking at this, the second one is what we've mainly been using, it seems."

Fulsy said.

"What could the meaning of this pattern be?"

Maytyl murmured, staring intently at the Magic-sensing Paper. She glanced at me. Considering the relationship between electrons and photons, it wasn't as if there were no concepts that came to mind. However, what concerned me now was a different issue. Watching the series of experiments, the exposure was taking quite a long time.

"Let's compare it with a Crimson Magic Crystal."

"Indeed. Well now, what will it show us next?"

While I was pondering, Maytyl and Fulsy exchanged the Magic Crystals.

Normal Magic Crystal ｜▍｜ Crimson Magic Crystal ｜｜ ▍

What appeared were three bands, just like with the normal Magic Crystal. However, the spacing between the first and second bands was narrow, while the third band was wide. And the intensity pattern was also different.

I see. As expected, the wavelength of the stored magic power is clearly different. No, there were also some visible at the same position in the Crimson Magic Crystal, compared to the normal one.

"Hoho. Hahahaha, this is quite interesting."

"The meaning of this difference, oh, honestly. I thought I knew what magic power was."

Fulsy squinted, stroking his beard. Noel buried his face in his hands.

"............"

However, Maytyl, who should know the most about this sample, was silent. I became uneasy.

"What's wrong? Is something bad?"

"Haa... this, you see."

"I don't understand 'this.' If something's wrong, just tell me."

I can't wield magic. Even Fulsy and Noel aren't accustomed to Crimson Magic Crystals. Maytyl momentarily lowered her face, then her shoulders trembled.

"Hehe, when we were using Crimson, impurity-like magic power became a problem. The true nature of the noise that gave us so much trouble just appeared so easily right before our eyes. If we had known just this much, we could have taken down Grynisias before you guys even made a move."

Maytyl pointed to the faint second band of the Crimson. No, that laugh of hers is like a mad scientist, it's scary. Her pale cheeks make it even more terrifying. And the gaze from behind is also scary. She's forgotten that the son of the Grynisias lord is here, hasn't she?

"Oh, honestly. It's truly astonishing. It hasn't even been a month since I came here. To have my understanding of magic power itself changed... What is it, you're the one who proposed this, but your reaction is so lukewarm. Could it be that this result is obvious to you?"

Maytyl said. She seemed displeased that I wasn't sharing her excitement. No, if I were shown such a beautiful experiment, I'd think it was amazing too. It's just that I can't wield magic, so I lack a sense of reality, and... Indeed, there might be a bit of loneliness, like I'm the only one checking the answers.

More than the discovery of an unknown phenomenon, which it also is for me, I'm relieved that it turned out as expected. I guess I'm not suited to be a researcher. In that sense, I might envy the three of them a little.

"Don't worry, I remember that promise."

I said, deliberately calm. That's why I want to properly fulfill my role as manager. This experiment demonstrated that differences in the properties of magic power can be objectively analyzed in the form of a spectrum. The principle of a new magic power measurement method had been verified.

"...Oh, you mean things like ice cream. More than that, I want to be able to research here every day."

Maytyl said. Her interest in food really has waned. Even Noel's eyes brightened with expectation at the mention of ice cream.

"At least for now, even every other day is a struggle."

The results from this lab are reported to the royal palace by Leonard. Then, after being judged as unproblematic, the next permission is granted. Naturally, the judgment is made at a high level.

I recall that the Chancellor makes the judgment along with the top two officials of the Magic Dormitory. To suppress dissatisfaction from the Magic Dormitory, which has been left out, Prince Craig sometimes participates. In other words, a meeting of the Kingdom's highest leadership occurs every other day.

I suggested to Craig that we expand joint research with the Empire, but the judgment was that it was still too early. For now, I share that opinion.

After all, even if it's a new magic pulse observation technology, it's actually the elucidation of the basic properties of magic power. While it can be said that applications are far off, the scope of application extends to all forms of magic and sorcery. It's an incredibly difficult piece of information to handle. Another reason is that it seems like a long road from here.

"Well, that's fine. How to apply this... we'll need a way to properly separate it within a circuit."

"For example, if we pass magic power through a liquid with a specific Magic Catalyst dissolved in it, which band would..."

"That's it! That's it!" "That's it!"

Maytyl and Fulsy jumped at Noel's words. A Magic Catalyst that reacts with specific wavelengths, indeed, that's interesting. Speaking of which, there was something in the Colony that emitted magical fluorescence.

No, no, I shouldn't get carried away myself. Considering the current sensitivity and resolution, it seems a long way off for Tree Rings analysis. From here on, tedious work to improve the prototype will likely continue.

"Don't forget that this is ultimately an experiment for magic pulse observation. Um, Curator-dono, you have those Mucus Magic Crystals, don't you?"

"Ah, we have a large quantity of those, and their purpose is... cough."

Fulsy coughed mid-sentence. He almost said "for Magic Catalyst" just now, didn't he? There's no need to hide it, but I wish he'd remember why I showed Maytyl IG-1, which doesn't require magic power for cultivation.

"Let's measure it."

I said. Noel struggled to fix the tiny, poppy seed-like Magic Crystal.

"It's quite difficult, isn't it? Most likely, the pattern is the same."

Fulsy said, looking at the single band. That band corresponded positionally to the most intense second band of a normal Magic Crystal. This meant that at this sensitivity, we couldn't capture the Magic Spectrum of the slime mold's tiny Magic Crystals.

"For example, if we passed the Miasma from a Magic Vent through this, it would be impossible to differentiate, wouldn't it?"

I asked Fulsy.

"............It would be impossible. We already narrow it with a slit and spread it with a Dragon Crystal prism. The amount of magic power per unit area that reaches the Magic-sensing Paper is drastically reduced."

"Can't we detect it with an Antenna instead of Magic-sensing Paper?"

"No, that's not easily done. During the Shoken Festival, you observed coins marked with specific magic power, didn't you? That was possible because we specifically selected that magic power and adjusted the focus. We merely adjusted the length of the Antenna's receiving part instinctively; we didn't understand what we're seeing now. Anyway, according to your hypothesis, the reflection angle would also differ for each wavelength. If it were only about quantity, we could just search for the focus that captures the maximum, but then we'd miss other components."

Fulsy pointed to the most intense band.

"...I see."

I only understood about half of what he was saying. When collecting light with a lens, it doesn't focus beyond a certain point. Was it that the focal length of a lens differs depending on the wavelength of light?

"If we're to measure a Magic Vent directly, we could increase the sensitivity by bringing the measuring device as close as possible and extending the exposure time. But even then, I wonder."

It's still difficult, then. For the current Magic Pulse Spectrum, perhaps fixing the device and leaving it for several days would be sufficient. It's like using astronomical telescopes to expose distant starlight over a long period.

Thinking about it, those slime mold Magic Insects are amazing. I remember moths can detect just a few molecules of pheromones with their antennae, right? Well, living organisms are basically nanomachines, so it's probably pointless to compare.

And what I want to know also includes past records. To put it extreme, no matter how precisely we can measure this year's Magic Pulse Spectrum, it alone is meaningless.

"If we knew the target range, we could adjust it, but... Hmm..."

"If we could improve the blurriness of these bands, I think distinguishing them would become easier."

"Then perhaps one Dragon Crystal would suffice."

I see, increasing the resolution would conversely narrow the band. The amount of magic power per unit area is naturally proportional to the illuminated area, after all. And the fewer things interposed, the smaller the loss.

"Alright. Then, let's first take this trash Magic Crystal..."

Maytyl said that much, then shook her head. Did she just feel a bit dizzy?

"...Let's aim to measure the Castle-Eating Worm's spectrum. Even if it's small, if we can't capture magic power from its Magic Crystal, then measuring a Magic Vent will be impossible. How about it?"

Fulsy and Noel nodded at Maytyl's proposal. I see, a clear, concrete goal is good.

"I think that's good."

I nodded as well. The sensitivity issue is something we'll have to figure out through trial and error. First of all, the research is progressing almost too smoothly. Just knowing that a spectrum exists means we can at least analyze the crystals. If it were unanalyzable to this extent, there would be no worries.

The problem is Maytyl's condition. We need to hurry with the experiment I asked Sherry to do.